From Paris to Belém: A Global Movement Comes Full Circle

When the Global Solar Council (GSC) was founded in 2015 — the same year world leaders gathered in Paris to forge a shared climate vision — global solar capacity stood at just 230 GW. Today, as we approach 3 TW, the solar industry has grown more than tenfold, thanks to a collective effort spanning continents, companies, and communities.

At the heart of this transformation stands Intersolar, the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar industry. Since being founded more than thirty years ago its exhibitions and conferences have been instrumental in connecting the industry, shaping dialogue, and accelerating collaboration across the renewable value chain. With events spanning four continents, Intersolar has provided the meeting ground where partnerships are born, business is done, and shared challenges are turned into shared solutions.

As we now gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, this milestone takes on special meaning. Once considered an emerging solar market, Brazil has become a global leader in renewable energy and the beating heart of Latin America’s clean energy transition. Its success mirrors the very evolution Intersolar and GSC have championed together — rapid, inclusive, and community-driven growth.

A Celebration of What’s Possible with Solar + Storage

To mark this moment, the Global Solar Council — with Intersolar’s support as a proud partner — is hosting a special anniversary event in Belém:

“Celebrating What’s Possible with Solar + Storage.”

The celebration brings together industry leaders, innovators, and advocates from around the world to reflect on a decade of progress and to look ahead to the next era of solar + storage integration. It’s more than a celebration — it’s a collective call to action for a faster, fairer energy transition powered by partnership.

And there’s no better backdrop than Brazil — a country redefining what’s possible in the Global South. From agrivoltaics and distributed generation to record-breaking utility-scale projects, Brazil embodies the dynamism, ambition, and opportunity driving the next wave of solar growth.

A Decade of Connection and Collaboration

For more than thirty years, Intersolar has served as the global meeting point for the solar and clean energy community — uniting decision-makers, innovators, and investors to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and drive forward the technologies shaping our shared future.

Through its close collaboration with platforms like the Global Solar Council, Intersolar continues to amplify the solar voice worldwide — supporting advocacy, innovation, and the alignment of markets toward a common goal: a resilient, accessible, and truly global solar economy.

Looking Ahead

The first decade of the Global Solar Council — and the decades of industry-building behind Intersolar — have proven what’s possible when the solar community works together. The next chapter will determine how far and how fast we can go: expanding access, integrating storage, and strengthening solar as the cornerstone of climate resilience and equitable development.

From Paris to Belém, our shared journey continues — brighter, stronger, and more united than ever.

Learn more:

Explore our Solar Investment Opportunities in Latin America report and find out more about our 10 year anniversary campaign as we celebrate a decade of progress — and shape the next one, together.