A new Global Solar Council (GSC) was established this past March, which “aims to expand the use of solar energy in the global energy mix by actively promoting the benefits of solar energy.”
Photo from Global Solar Council website
Composed of a CEO-level coalition of some big names in solar, such as Dupont, Suntech and Dow Corning, the council will put its muscle towards communication with senior policy makers who can influence public policy. They plan to educate on the benefits of solar energy, focusing on all that solar has achieved to date and all that could be possible in the future of the renewable energy market.1
Looking at all aspects of the chain from policy to financing, R&D, cross national collaboration and solar grid management, their goal is straightforward: “to increase global deployment of solar energy in a sustainable fashion.”
The GSC will work together with other solar industry organizations such as the EPIA (European Photovoltaic Industry Association) and the SEIA (Solar Energy Industry Association). While it was assumed by many in the industry that the GSC was a response to global trade issues between the US and China, the GSC explained to Cleantecnica that:
“Recent media claims that the Global Solar Council (GSC) was set up in response to current dumping claims proceeding through the US Commerce Department process are incorrect. The Global Solar Council is a CEO-led coalition of global companies working to promote a favorable political framework for solar power, unrelated to any active trade disputes, as was made clear by the Global Solar Council’s press release, White Paper and media responses.”
A copy of their white paper, released on May 3, 2012 is available here.
