ISA–World Bank Pacific Dialogue Pushes Bankable Solar Pipeline Across Island Economies

The International Solar Alliance (International Solar Alliance) and the World Bank Group jointly convened the first ISA SIDS Dialogue, Pacific in Bali, bringing together Pacific Island leaders, ministers, development partners and private sector stakeholders to accelerate bankable solar and storage deployment across Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Under the theme, 'A Pacific Talanoa – Guided by the Ocean, Powered by the Sun,' the Dialogue focused on shifting from policy discussions to investment-ready clean energy projects across countries including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Mauritius.

A key milestone was the launch of the ISA SIDS Platform’s E-Marketplace tender for a 220 MW solar and solar-plus-storage pipeline in Mauritius, positioning the country as a frontrunner in structuring scalable renewable energy investments through standardised procurement and investor engagement frameworks.

Officials highlighted that Pacific SIDS collectively spend over USD 1 billion annually on fossil fuel imports, while facing infrastructure losses, high electricity costs and persistent barriers to private capital, including regulatory uncertainty and financing risks.

Mauritius showcased its structured pipeline of around ten projects as a replicable model, while Fiji emphasised the urgency of energy transition amid worsening climate impacts and fuel dependency. The World Bank underscored the role of risk mitigation and blended finance tools to unlock private sector participation in the region.

ISA Director General Ashish Khanna said that the platform could enable up to 500 MW of solar capacity by 2030, aggregating demand to improve investor confidence and project viability across island economies.

The Dialogue also introduced the SIDS Solarisation Framework and a creative 'Designing Resilience' challenge exploring integrated solar solutions in tourism and public infrastructure.

With upcoming COP31 preparatory meetings expected in the Pacific, the Dialogue marks a strategic step in embedding island energy transitions into the global climate and investment agenda.