TERI’s DG Dr Ajay Mathur is ISA’s new Director-General

New Delhi: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) found a new Director-General in Dr Ajay Mathur. In a virtual address to the ISA's first-ever Special Assembly, Dr Mathur said, "I am deeply honoured by the faith reposed in me by the ISA Assembly. I look forward to working with all the member-countries in integrating solar applications into their country's own energy development strategies, and to welcoming new Members into the ISA family, especially now that the Assembly has enabled universalisation of membership to all UN countries." He succeeds Dr Upendra Tiwary as ISA DG.

ISA's new Director-General details his plan for first 100 days

Detailing his plan for the first 100 days, Dr Mathur said, "In my first hundred days, I would like us to initiate an assessment of solarisation opportunities in our member countries – including what do we do now, and what do we do as the next step; and to identify the institutional and business models that can help implement these goals.  At the same time, we would work with partners to enable the financing of the solarisation initiatives that we would like to take up now, and finalize the first such financing partnerships in my first hundred days."

ALSO READ: SJVN is now a corporate member of International Solar Alliance (ISA)

"I believe that ISA has an important role in working with our member-countries and the financial institutions to create and facilitate the funding and implementation of solar projects which can change our energy pathways to bring us reduced costs, better and more livelihoods, greater convenience, as well as reduced – and ultimately zero-carbon emissions," he added.

Dr Ajay Mathur was TERI DG before joining ISA

Dr Mathur's expertise spans across key areas of energy transition, policy, research, and technology commercialisation to financing, international cooperation and institutional development. Currently, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a key driver of the energy transition to renewables and reduction in urban air pollution for the past five years, Dr Mathur earlier held leadership appointments at the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Green Climate Fund. In 2020, he received an Icon SWM-CE Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to environmental protection.

The backdrop

A coalition of 73 member countries, ISA was established at the end of 2015 to accelerate the demand for and use of safe, sustainable, and affordable solar energy for all. It aims to mobilise over $1 trillion USD of investment into solar projects by 2030 through focused advocacy, policy and regulatory support, capacity building, and by overcoming perceived investment barriers. Dr Tripathy had served as Director General of the ISA since the time it was founded in 2015. 

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Telegram. Join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram and stay updated)