15 Global Solar Council recommendations

In recent years, solar energy has reached important goals in terms of technology and costs. Now it’s time for markets to be re-designed so as to create a level playing field for all energy sources. This is a necessary step for solar PV to lead the fight against climate change and pave the way towards a decarbonized economy.

In support of its mission, policy positions and ambition for 10 million solar jobs by 2030, the Global Solar Council has identified 15 recommendations for regulators, industry, grid operators, energy providers and other stakeholders for them to act and co-operate in support of the rapid, widespread adoption of solar PV technologies.

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1. Ensure markets are re-designed to give solar PV equal access and are appropriate and sustainable for distributed renewable energy.

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2. Remove market distortions and provide access to secure financing of solar PV investments such as through Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs), reverse auctions, PPAs, grants and loans.

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3. Implement a stable and consistent regulatory environment and oppose measures which destroy the profitability of investments and the confidence of new investors.

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4. Encourage self-sustaining PV business models and remove restrictions on solar and energy storage self-consumption for individuals and businesses.

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5. Introduce building codes that incorporate solar PV.

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6. Transform national and trans-national electricity networks to encourage a diversified mix of renewable generation technologies such as solar PV.

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7. Use the strength of government capacities and financing instruments to mitigate risks and thus lower the cost of capital and scalability of renewable energy investments.

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8. Empower local financial and other institutions such as local government or community bodies to become participants in renewable energy investments.

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9. Create facilities dedicated to scaling up renewable energy investment.

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10. Support the Global Solar Council in providing education and information to finance, insurance, regulatory and certification bodies in order to improve the bankability of solar PV.

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11. Establish public-private partnerships to help build stakeholder capacities in the solar and energy storage sectors.

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12. Set an adequate price on carbon and promote regulated carbon markets to ensure we account for the full external costs of pollution.

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13. Develop clear and acceptable exit strategies and concrete milestones for the transition from fossil fuel-based energy by the transformation of the electricity and other energy sectors to a renewable energy-based system.

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14. Recognize the added system value of solar PV such as auxiliary services, i.e. create a progressive framework for harvesting those benefits and promote the development of innovative technologies that help stabilize grids, systems and markets.

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15. Develop next-generation transmission, distribution and mini-grids designed fully around deployment of distributed renewable energy.