Here are the notes on the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative, formatted for clarity.
One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)
Core Vision: The OSOWOG initiative is a global vision to establish an interconnected electricity grid to share solar energy across the world. It is founded on the principle that “the sun never sets” somewhere on Earth.
Launch and Evolution
- Initial Proposal: The concept was first introduced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2018 at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
- Merger with UK’s Initiative: In May 2021, India’s OSOWOG and the United Kingdom’s Green Grids Initiative (GGI) agreed to merge.
- Formal Launch: The combined initiative, officially named Green Grids Initiative—One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG), was formally launched at COP26 in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021.
- Key Partners: The project is spearheaded by India and the UK, in partnership with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the World Bank Group. It has been endorsed by approximately 80-92 ISA member nations.
Three-Phase Implementation Plan
The initiative is planned to be implemented in three distinct phases:
- Phase 1: Asian Interconnection
- Focuses on interconnecting the Indian grid with the grids of the Middle East, South Asia, and South-East Asia (MESASEA).
- India already has grid connections with Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Negotiations are ongoing with Sri Lanka, Singapore, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
- Phase 2: African Connection
- In this phase, the MESASEA grid created in Phase 1 will be interconnected with African power pools.
- Phase 3: Global Interconnection
- This is the final phase, aiming to achieve a truly global power transmission grid.
- The target is to establish an interconnection capacity of 2,600 GW by 2050.
Vision and Objectives
- Global Connectivity: To connect 140 countries to a continuous solar power network, transmitting electricity across different time zones.
- Energy Balancing: To harness solar energy from regions where it is daytime and transmit it to regions experiencing night, thereby balancing global energy supply and demand.
- Supporting Energy Transitions: The vision is to facilitate three critical transitions:
- The shift from fossil fuels to clean energy.
- The move from local energy balancing to cross-border energy distribution.
- The transition of consumption patterns towards electric-centric usage.
Name Clarification
- Original Indian Initiative: One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG).
- Original UK Initiative: Green Grids Initiative (GGI).
- Merged and Current Official Name: Green Grids Initiative—One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG).