ISA to Host Key Solar Energy Summit in Chile for Latin America and Caribbean

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will host the Seventh Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region in Santiago, Chile, from August 4 to 6, 2025. The meeting is set to bring together government representatives from ISA Member Countries, institutional partners, think tanks, private sector leaders, and youth innovators to chart a collaborative path forward for solar energy adoption across the region.

Themed 'Harnessing Solar Power for Resilience, Growth, and Unity in the Region,' the meeting will focus on unlocking the region’s vast solar potential, strengthening energy security, and fostering cross-border innovation. Chile will host the event with support from Grenada, which currently holds the Vice-Chair of the Regional Committee, and in partnership with the Embassy of India in Chile, the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), and Brazil, the incoming COP30 Presidency.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Ashish Khanna, Director General of ISA, underscored the LAC region’s growing significance in the global clean energy transition. He pointed to the region’s abundant solar and hydro resources, alongside reserves of critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies. Khanna cited India’s success in achieving 50% of its installed energy capacity from renewables ahead of the 2030 target as a case study in strategic action and long-term vision. He stressed that the ISA aims to replicate this success by catalyzing private finance, promoting digital utilities, and strengthening innovation ecosystems across the LAC region.

A key highlight of the meeting will be the announcement of 15 winners from the region under ISA’s SolarX Startup Challenge. The platform aims to spotlight transformative, youth-driven ideas in solar technology that will be further recognised at COP30. The event will also focus on operationalising the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Solar Platform, a tool to aggregate procurement and streamline solar deployment in island nations across the Caribbean.

The Regional Committee Meeting will also showcase ISA’s four strategic pillars. These include the expansion of catalytic and blended finance initiatives to de-risk solar investments in the region; the development of the Global Capability Centre, a proposed ‘Silicon Valley for Solar’ that connects innovation hubs and supports regional capacity building; and the strengthening of platforms like the Country Partnership Framework to support national energy goals.

The meeting will explore policy roadmaps tailored to the region’s needs, including frameworks for scaling up energy storage, green hydrogen, and AI-powered solar technologies. It will also address the importance of LAC’s critical minerals, particularly lithium and rare earth elements. in enabling clean technology supply chains.

The RCM is expected to play a pivotal role in aligning the region’s priorities with ISA’s broader mission of advancing solar energy as a driver of sustainable growth. Through thematic sessions, the event will examine how to build institutional capacity, enable digital infrastructure, and scale up private investments in solar across the region.

At present, 26 countries from the Latin America and Caribbean region are part of the ISA, including 23 full members and 3 signatories. The Regional Committee Meetings are held annually to assess progress and shape future work plans, with a focus on ensuring smooth coordination among participating nations.

ISA, which was jointly launched by India and France in 2015 at COP21 in Paris, has grown into a global platform with 124 Member and Signatory countries. Headquartered in India, the Alliance works to reduce the cost of solar energy and enhance access to solar technology, especially in developing countries and island states.

The upcoming Santiago meeting is expected to reinforce ISA’s engagement in the LAC region and accelerate solar deployment through collaborative innovation, strategic financing, and inclusive policy design.