global solar council 2017 action plan€¦ · intersolar europe (munich) - may 30 - june 2 - board...

Encourage the rapid and wide-scale adoption of solar energy through cooperation, education and training.

GLOBAL SOLAR COUNCIL

2017 ACTION PLAN

Great Achievements in 2016 We will begin 2017 with a solid foundation. In our inaugural year, we had many important accomplishments, including:

Grew membership to 25 national and regional associations and 21 corporations

Created Strategy Committee, Corporate Leadership Committee (formerly Corporate Leadership Forum) and Standards & Harmonization Committee

Launched GSC Global Seminar Series

Launched GSC Technology & Innovation Forum

Developed and published Policy Positions and Recommendations White Paper

Published GSC Launch Report

Published G20 Policy Paper on 10 million solar jobs

Published 5 monthly newsletters (including December)

Published Inaugural Quarterly Report (including December)

Hosted Joint NSEFI-GSC Press Conference in Ahmedabad

Issued 8 press releases (including December)

Signed cooperation agreement with SolarPower Europe on Global Market Outlook

Signed cooperation agreement with TerraWatt Initiative

Led creation of Inaugural IRENA General Assembly Public-Private Roundtable

Initiated and presented in the IRENA webinar series on RE Costing Alliance

Keynote speeches in Jujuy, Beijing, Hangzhou, New Delhi, Shanghai and Singapore

Participated on more than 15 high-level panels

Participated at COP22

Presented 10 million Solar Jobs Declaration to Minister Piyush Goyal

Member, IRENA Coalition for Action Steering Committee

Chair, IRENA Coalition for Action Solar Working Group

Observer, International Solar Alliance Steering Committee

Member, IRENA-TWI Standardization Initiative

Member, Clean Energy Ministerial Wind & Solar Working Group

Member, REN21

In the new year, we will build upon this impressive body of work by focusing on: (i) communications; (ii) increased Member cooperation; and (iii) the development of new educational tools, while laying the groundwork for future training activities. Please recall that


our mission is to encourage the rapid and wide-scale adoption of solar energy through cooperation, education and training. Committee Work Member committees will continue to direct and guide the GSC. There are now five GSC leadership committees: (i) Board of Directors; (ii) Executive Committee; (iii) Strategy Committee; (iv) Corporate Leadership Committee (formerly Corporate Leadership Forum); and (v) Standards & Harmonization Committee. Each committee is Chaired by a Board Member and administered by GSC staff. The Board of Directors meets approximately four times per year and sets GSC policy positions and recommendations and overall direction for the organization. The Executive Committee meets approximately once per month and oversees the GSC’s day to day operations. The Strategy Committee meets approximately four times per year and is responsible for drafting GSC policy positions and recommendations. The Strategy Committee is also responsible for developing the GSC’s long-term planning. The Corporate Leadership Committee meets approximately four times per year. Its objective is to provide advice and counsel on principal activities and policy positions and recommendations, from the perspective of leading solar companies. The Standards & Harmonization Committee (SHC) was recently established to promote the GSC’s policy position Develop, implement, and promote internationally-recognized solar codes and standards. In addition to other projects, the SHC will investigate potential collaboration with the Australian Solar Council on their “Positive Quality” initiative. The SHC will meet approximately six times per year. Communications, Publications & Events Principal communications channels in 2017 will include weekly social media posts, monthly newsletters, Quarterly Reports, public presentations, webinars and other educational materials, e.g., fact sheets. GSC messaging will be derived from the GSC’s formal Policy Positions. Each of these Policy Positions and related 15 Recommendations will be highlighted at specific events and within a Quarterly Report, as proposed below (see also, ANNEX I & II):

Recognize that solar PV is a low-cost, reliable and clean source of energy o IRENA General Assembly Public-Private Roundtable (Abu Dhabi, January), and/or

International Solar Alliance RE-Invest (February, Gujarat) o Q1 Quarterly Report


Utilize solar PV to alleviate poverty and enforce participative structures o IRENA General Assembly Public-Private Roundtable (Abu Dhabi, January), and/or

International Solar Alliance RE-Invest (February, Gujarat)

o Q1 Quarterly Report

Build capacities in the solar sector to anchor the energy transition o SNEC (April, Shanghai), InterSolar Europe (May, Munich) and/or Clean Energy

Ministerial (CEM8) (June, Beijing) o Q2 Quarterly Report

Develop, implement, and promote internationally-recognized solar codes and standards o Solar Power International (September, Las Vegas), PVCEC (October, Beijing) o Q3 Quarterly Report

Enhance energy security through solar PV o Technology & Innovation Forum (November, location TBD) o Q4 Quarterly Report

The Strategy Committee will be responsible for identifying new supporting materials for the above policy positions, e.g., data, reports and articles, beyond traditional sources of information. In addition to the communications channels noted above, the GSC will promote its Policy Positions and Recommendations through public speaking opportunities, including presentations by GSC “Ambassadors,” as follows: In 2017, GSC Board members will be encouraged to take a more active role in representing the GSC at key solar events around the world, including chairing GSC Committee meetings. The GSC will provide a travel and housing stipend of up to a maximum of $2K to each Board member willing to represent the GSC at these events, beginning with Executive Committee Members and Committee Chairmen. These GSC “Ambassadors” will serve as the principal representative of the GSC at the event and help expand the GSC’s advocacy and network. Over time, the Ambassador program could be expanded to provide a travel and housing stipend to new solar leaders for attending GSC-sponsored education and training events. As a co-investment to receiving the $2K stipend, GSC Ambassadors agree to: (i) give a public presentation, e.g., keynote address, or lead a GSC Committee meeting; (ii) promote GSC activities and proactively seek new members; and (iii) prepare a brief post-event report for inclusion in the monthly newsletter. The event should take place outside the GSC Ambassador’s home market. As part of its Global Seminar Series, the GSC will also host roundtable discussions and VIP networking receptions at the above noted events. The seminars will provide multiple opportunities for members to participate as keynote speakers, moderators and/or panelists. Corporate members, in particular, will be encouraged to help organize and lead the roundtable sessions.


The GSC will also host approximately four webinars in 2017, beginning with a Q1 webinar on the Argentinian solar market. Additional webinar topics could include “Corporate Sourcing,” “Solar Advocacy Best Practices,” and “The Solar Supply Chain (from polysilicon to operations & maintenance).” GSC members will also play a role, and be able to attend for free, the quarterly webinars organized by SolarPower Europe as part of the Global Market Outlook. Membership & Non-Dues Revenue Retaining existing members and recruiting new members, particularly association members, will also be priorities in 2017. The GSC will also dedicate resources to developing new sources of revenue, including grants, event revenue and fees for services rendered. Both of these activities will be under the direction of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Key Performance Indicators The GSC’s performance in 2017 will measured against the following Key Performance Indicators:

Grow membership to 50, including both associations and corporations

Stay within the annual budget agreed by the Board of Directors

Grow and diversify the revenue streams of the organization compared to 2016

Host three in-person Board of Directors meetings

Host one in-person General Membership meeting

Host four Strategy Committee, four Corporate Leadership Committee and four Standards & Harmonization Committee meetings (at least one in-person)

Enter formal partnership with the International Solar Alliance

Organize three GSC Global Seminar Series events

Organize annual GSC Technology & Innovation Forum

Host three VIP networking receptions

Host four educational webinars

Secure GSC leadership role at 10 events, e.g., keynote speaker, moderator or panelist

Grow LinkedIn contacts to 500 and Twitter followers to 1,000

Publish 12 Monthly Newsletters

Publish four Quarterly Reports


ANNEX I

2017 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

January 2017 Monthly newsletter

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) General Assembly – January 13-15 (Abu Dhabi) - Potential public-private roundtable discussion with GSC leadership participation

o Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report World Future Energy Summit

- January 16-19 (Abu Dhabi) - Potential GSC-MESIA-GWEC Joint Networking Reception

Strategy Committee teleconference – late January

Corporate Leadership Forum teleconference – late January

February Monthly newsletter Board of Directors teleconference – early February

International Solar Alliance (ISA) RE-Invest (Gujarat, India) - February 15-17 - Chairman to sign Memorandum of Understanding with ISA - GSC International Seminar Series

o Strategy Committee/Corporate Leadership Forum to develop panel sessions o Member participation as moderators and panelists o Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report

March

Berlin Energy Transition - March 20-21 - Chairman to give presentation - Co-organize panel on “Solar and Pension Funds” Q1 2017 Quarterly Report - Member participation via op-eds, stories, analysis, etc.


April Clean Energy Ministerial (Beijing) - Date TBD - GSC leadership participation as roundtable panelists - Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report SNEC (Shanghai) - April 17-21 - GSC International Seminar Series


- Joint GSC-APVIA Corporate Leadership Forum networking reception - Board of Directors meeting – April 18

Strategy Committee teleconference – late April Corporate Leadership Forum teleconference – late April

May

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc. InterSolar Europe (Munich) - May 30 - June 2 - Board of Directors meeting (date TBD) - Corporate Leadership Forum meeting (date TBD) - GSC-SPE-BSW networking reception (date TBD)

June

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc. Q2 2017 Quarterly Report - Member participation via op-eds, stories, analysis, etc.

July

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc. Brazil Solar Power (Rio de Janeiro)


- July date TBD - GSC International Seminar Series


Board of Directors teleconference

August

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc.

China PV Summit (Beijing) - August date TBD - GSC leadership participation as speaker/panelist

September

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc. Solar Power International (Las Vegas) - September 11-15 - GSC International Seminar Series

o Date TBD o Strategy Committee/Corporate Leadership Forum to develop panel sessions o Member participation as moderators and panelists o Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report

- Corporate Leadership Forum networking reception - Annual Membership and Board of Directors Meeting – September 11

Q3 2017 Quarterly Report - Member participation via op-eds, stories, analysis, etc.

October

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc.

PVCEC (Beijing) - October date TBD - Member participation as panelists - Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report


Pacific Pension & Investment Institute Executive Roundtable (India) - October date TBD - Member participation as panelists - Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report

Strategy Committee teleconference – early October

Corporate Leadership Forum teleconference – early October April

November

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc. GSC Technology & Innovation Forum - November date TBD - Strategy Committee/Corporate Leadership Forum to develop panel sessions - Member participation as moderators and panelists - Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report

COP23 (Asia location TBD) - November date TBD - GSC leadership participation, potentially as panelists - Content generated for website, newsletter, and quarterly report

December

Monthly newsletter - Member participation via news, stories, etc. Board of Directors teleconference – early December

Q4 2017 Quarterly Report - Member participation via op-eds, stories, analysis, etc.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Steering Committee, IRENA Coalition for Action Chair, IRENA Coalition for Action Solar Working Group Member, IRENA-TWI Standardization Initiative Member, Clean Energy Ministerial Wind & Solar Working Group Member, REN21 General Assembly Potential Partner, International Solar Alliance


ANNEX II

GSC POLICY POSITIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WHITE PAPER Introduction The Global Solar Council (GSC) represents more than 40 national and regional solar associations from both established and emerging markets and 2,000 companies across the solar supply chain. The GSC’s vision is to ensure that solar energy becomes the leading contributor to the world’s energy system with 100% renewable energy in the power sector. Its mission is to encourage the rapid and wide-scale adoption of solar energy through cooperation, education and training. Solar PV and other solar technologies have the potential to protect the climate, secure energy supply and create wealth, jobs and other economic opportunities. The International Renewable Energy Agency’s recent report Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2016, identifies solar PV as the largest renewable energy employer with around 3 million jobs worldwide, an 11% increase over 2014. In recognition of solar PV’s immense potential for job creation, the GSC has set a target of 10 million solar jobs by 2030, which will result in trillions of dollars in longterm, stable investments and multiple terawatts of PV generation. To achieve this goal, the GSC will promote the following policy positions and recommendations for action and implementation. Recognize that solar PV is a low-cost, reliable and clean source of energy Over the term of its expected useful life, solar PV is a low-cost investment, particularly in relation to current primary sources of energy generation using fossil fuels or nuclear power. It is a proven technology which can be scaled quickly. Solar PV is also linked with a broad value chain, creating local jobs and local income. It is environmentally sustainable and opens new economic perspectives, thus enabling independence from fossil fuels. Solar PV is one of the best tools available to fight climate change and replace carbon-based energy sources—it should become a principal source of electricity generation around the world. The COP21 outcomes in December 2015 were a clear success. Recognizing the importance of solar PV to achieving the Paris targets, it will be essential that national governments develop ambitious and binding policies which accelerate the adoption of solar PV, including innovative solar PV funding policies and mechanisms. Those policies and mechanisms are needed as long as energy markets are distorted by fossil subsidies, do not incorporate CO2 emission prices and inappropriate market designs for distributed renewable energy. The regulation of local energy markets must not block a self-sustained technology offtake, e.g., in areas where Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have limited market access or in markets where self-consumption or the use of storage is restricted. Policy makers should take active decisions against such restrictions and establish a level-playing field through measures such as fixed kWh-based remuneration, 2 reverse auction tenders, free access to balance power and other ancillary services markets and public loans for banks, investors and end-users.


High fossil fuel subsidies impede a level playing field for solar PV and other renewable energy sources. GSC recommends policy makers remove fossil fuel subsidies and transfer those means into support for PV and other renewables. Each dollar invested in solar PV will be transformed into local value and jobs. If a rapid exit from fossil fuel subsidies is not possible, e.g., for social reasons, an exit plan should be implemented that provides a clear pathway for the investment community. Regulation should be also liberalized in a way that gives solar PV equal access to markets and electrical networks. Governments and regulators should take every possibility to educate stakeholders on the unique attributes of solar PV across multiple end-uses. National solar programs should include campaigns, training and study programs and governments at all levels should utilize public grounds and buildings as showcases to highlight the latest solar PV technologies. Utilize solar PV to alleviate poverty and enforce participative structures Solar PV has become cost competitive to or cheaper than fossil fuel options in many grid and off-grid areas around the world. Solar PV payback times are below five years in many countries. Nevertheless, the mass adoption of solar PV in rural and low-income communities remains constrained by upfront capital costs. In addition, even when mini-grid or off-grid PV systems are economically viable and funding available, limitations for IPPs, restricted competition amongst utilities and unreliable grid planning can impede the adoption of solar PV. Policy makers can counteract these difficulties in rural and low income communities with enforcing participative structures. Governments should promote rural electrification through innovative funding models, grants or credit lines. Governments should also enforce long-term grid planning with reliable timelines to make off-grid investments more secure. Where necessary, off-grid market access should be regulated to encourage solar and other renewable energy generation. Solar PV generation has no fuel costs so lifetime generation costs are known and fixed – for developing countries especially this provides long term certainty on energy costs. Enhance energy security through solar PV Solar PV is a local resource, available anywhere in the world at reliably low prices for decades into the future, with predictable yields and a distributed structure that is well protected against external threats. Solar PV also helps nations diversify their energy supply and gain independence from energy imports or from single sources. It relieves the consumption of finite energy resources which is already limiting the economic growth and the growth of energy demand in developing countries. Beyond power, solar PV unfolds even more potential by coupling efficiently with other energy sectors such as heating, cooling and mobility where a transition towards renewable energy is also necessary. Solar PV can also be combined with other renewable energy sources such as solar thermal, biomass or wind energy in order to increase the renewable shares and improve the security of supply and certainty of costs.


Build capacities in the solar sector to anchor the energy transition The value of solar PV is both immediate and long term. But its deployment requires strong stakeholder structures, and adoption of best practices for deployment is a key goal of the GSC. Only with an active PV industry representation, education facilities, competent regulators and academic institutions will solar PV disseminate sustainably and be anchored in existing and developing structures. With strong government and broader support, stakeholder organizations such as the GSC will help increase local knowledge on solar PV and deliver valuable input to PV policy making and delivery of on the ground positive results. The GSC will continue and increase its efforts at collaboration and dialogue with governments and other stakeholders on increasing PV deployment and building private-public partnerships to enhance knowledge transfer and greater international cooperation. Develop, implement and promote internationally-recognized solar codes and standards The GSC is at the forefront of those in our industry deploying high quality solar PV components which safe and deliver long-term, reliable yields. On a global scale we strongly encourage the best tools for ensuring product safety and quality through the adoption of solar-related codes and standards covering PV systems and their installation, buildings and grid integration. Uniformity of quality and deployment standards will help ensure efficiency, system compatibility and safety. Codes and standards also have the ability to lower costs through harmonization and to harvest the added system value of solar PV in the energy system. The GSC is driving processes to ensure Governments, industry, codes and standards development bodies, testing institutes and inspection authorities work together to create universal internationally compatible codes and standards and disseminate related materials to national control authorities. Another important aspect of standardization is the harmonization of contracts and other project documents. IRENA, the Terawatt Initiative (TWI), a GSC partner organization, and the GSC are developing the Solar Energy Standardization Initiative to bring together a group of public and private sector stakeholders to define and agree upon the terms of a standard documentation for solar projects that would be effective and generally acceptable by finance institutions. The GSC fully supports this initiative and will continue to contribute to its development. Recommendations The GSC recommends that governments, regulators, industry, grid operators, energy providers and other stakeholders co-operate to:

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


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.

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

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

5. Introduce building codes that incorporate solar PV. 6. Transform the national and transnational electricity networks to encourage a diversified

mix of renewable generation technologies such as solar PV. 7. Using the strength of government financing instruments and capacity to mitigate risk,

and to lower the cost of capital and scalability of renewable energy investments. 8. Empower local financial and other institutions such as local government or community

bodies to become participants in renewable energy investments. 9. Create facilities dedicated to scaling up renewable energy investment. 10. Support the GSC in providing education and information to finance, insurance,

regulatory and certification bodies in order to improve the bankability of solar PV. 11. Establish public-private partnerships to help build stakeholder capacities in the solar and

energy storage sectors. 12. Set an adequate price on carbon and promote regulated carbon markets to ensure we

account for the full external costs of pollution. 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.

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.

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

global solar council 2017 action plan€¦ · intersolar europe (munich) - may 30 - june 2 - board...

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