Global Solar Council
Global Solar Council is a non-profit trade association founded in 2015, representing corporate and association members across the global solar PV value chain that collectively cover over 97% of worldwide installed solar capacity. It advocates for solar-friendly policy at international forums, publishes flagship market intelligence, and convenes industry task forces on finance, grids, and agrivoltaics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Global Solar Council does
Global Solar Council (GSC) is a non-profit trade association founded in 2015, headquartered in Washington, D.C., that operates as the united voice of the global solar PV industry. GSC unites corporate members across the solar value chain — including manufacturers, developers, installers, investors, and service providers — alongside national, regional, and international solar industry associations, with members collectively representing over 97% of global installed solar PV capacity. The organization drives its mission through policy advocacy at major international forums (COP, G20, CEM), flagship market intelligence publications (Africa Market Outlook 2026-2029, Global Solar Market Outlook 2026-2030, PV Plus Report, Connecting the Sun, How to Finance Solar for All?), and member-led task forces covering finance, grid integration, skills, supply chain, and agrivoltaics.
GSC's product and technology portfolio is built around research reports and position papers, standards frameworks (Global Solar Training Standards), and — as of June 2026 — the Future Grid Simulator (GridSim), a digital modeling tool for energy systems. The association has expanded its mandate to include battery storage, becoming the world's first global industry association for solar PV and storage. GSC's business model is membership-based and subscription-recurring: corporate members and association members pay dues to access policy advocacy, exclusive tools (e.g., early GridSim access), networking, and participation in task forces. Revenue is supplemented through event partnerships (notably with the Intersolar exhibition series), collaborative reports with partners such as UN DESA, CREIA, and SolarPower Europe, and strategic alliances with the Global Covenant of Mayors to scale rooftop solar to 300 million homes and businesses by 2030. The organization operates with a small core team (1-10 employees) led by CEO Sonia Dunlop.
Global Solar Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Global Solar Council
- Legal name
- Global Solar Council
- Website
- https://globalsolarcouncil.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Global Solar Council is a non-profit trade association founded in 2015, representing corporate and association members across the global solar PV value chain that collectively cover over 97% of worldwide installed solar capacity. It advocates for solar-friendly policy at international forums, publishes flagship market intelligence, and convenes industry task forces on finance, grids, and agrivoltaics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Global Solar Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Industry Trade Association
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Distribution & Wholesale Supply (Channel, Procurement, Logistics) (EUAMABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO)
Keywords
Where Global Solar Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Global Solar Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership dues: GSC operates as a membership-based association with corporate members across the solar value chain and national/regional/international association members. Revenue is generated through membership fees from companies and associations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Global Solar Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Global Solar Council is a non-profit trade association that unites the global solar PV industry, representing companies and associations across the solar value chain. It advocates for supportive policies at international forums (COP, G20, CEM), publishes market intelligence reports (Africa Market Outlook, Global Solar Market Outlook), develops industry standards and best practices, and convenes members through working groups and events. Revenue is generated primarily through corporate and association membership dues.
Product overview
Global Solar Council is a non-profit trade body and the united voice of the global solar PV industry, advocating for policies and facilitating knowledge exchange. The organization's offerings consist of research reports and publications (including the Africa Market Outlook, Global Solar Market Outlook, PV Plus Report, and various Position Papers on finance and grid integration), the Future Grid Simulator (GridSim) digital tool for energy systems modeling, and working groups/task forces including the AgriPV Task Force for agrivoltaics and International Solar Finance Group. GSC also provides global standards frameworks such as Global Solar Training Standards. The portfolio is organized around workstreams covering policy advocacy, finance, skills, supply chain, grids, and agrivoltaics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Future Grid Simulator (GridSim) The first digital tool developed by GSC and its partners to help demonstrate the role of solar in future energy systems. Provides modeling and simulation capabilities for energy planning and is available exclusively to GSC members.
- Africa Market Outlook Report GSC's flagship annual analysis of solar and storage deployment across the African continent, providing market data, project tracking, import flows, and forward-looking modeling through the end of the decade.
- Global Solar Market Outlook: 2026-2030 In-depth analysis of solar PV developments with forward-looking scenarios up to 2030, providing detailed regional and country-level outlook with actionable policy recommendations.
- Position Paper: Connecting the Sun Position paper published by GSC and supported by SMA Solar through the Grid & Storage Task Force, outlining a blueprint for modernizing electricity networks and scaling solar+storage to secure the clean energy transition.
- Position Paper: How to Finance Solar for All? Position paper chaired by Jinko Solar through the GSC Finance Task Force, outlining a blueprint for transforming global finance to enable truly inclusive and equitable solar deployment.
- PV Plus Report Report titled 'Opportunities for South-South Cooperation: Solar Energy Use for Sustainable Development' produced with UN DESA and CREIA, analyzing how PV Plus (solar PV combined with storage and productive uses of energy) can help countries leapfrog fossil fuels.
- Solar Investment Opportunities: Latin America Report Report highlighting market potential, key challenges, and policy recommendations to unlock investment and accelerate clean energy growth in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.
- GRA COP28 Policy Agenda Policy agenda developed by GSC in partnership with the Global Solar Alliance, offering 13 policy recommendations for solar deployment including finance, grid integration, permitting, biodiversity, and renewables penetration.
- Global Solar Training Standards GSC initiative to develop and promote global standards for skills and sustainability in the solar PV industry, part of the solutions and standard-setting workstream.
- International Solar Finance Group First-ever global dialogue between the solar PV industry and finance sector, launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to bridge the financial gap between ambition and deployment, particularly in emerging markets, with an ambition to reduce cost of capital from 15% to 5%.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2 TW milestone achieved for global solar PV installed capacity
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Global Solar Council
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Global Solar Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Global Solar Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Global Covenant of Mayors (Global Mayors Organisation)coreGSC and Global Covenant of Mayors partnered to help cities worldwide accelerate rooftop solar and battery storage, connecting local leaders with expertise, tools, and networks to deliver affordable, reliable clean energy and scale solar to 300 million homes and businesses by 2030.
- NextPowercoreNextPower chairs the GSC AgriPV Task Force, a global initiative to accelerate agrivoltaics growth. The task force brings together leaders from solar and agricultural sectors, policymakers, researchers, developers, and farmers to establish frameworks for responsible AgriPV deployment globally.
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)coreGSC collaborated with UN DESA and CREIA on the 'PV Plus: Opportunities for South-South Cooperation' report, the first comprehensive assessment of solar PV industry growth and PV Plus integration potential for sustainable development in the Global South.
- Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA)coreCREIA collaborated with GSC and UN DESA on the PV Plus report for South-South Cooperation, showcasing PV Plus models and inspiring innovators to explore further solar applications.
- Global Solar AlliancecoreGSC partnered with Global Solar Alliance to develop the Policy Agenda for solar at COP28, providing 13 policy recommendations covering finance, grid integration, permitting, biodiversity, and renewables penetration.
- SolarPower EuropecoreGSC publishes the Global Solar Market Outlook in partnership with SolarPower Europe, providing in-depth analysis of solar PV developments with regional and country-level outlooks.
- SMA Solar TechnologysupportingSMA Solar supported GSC's Grid & Storage Task Force position paper 'Connecting the Sun' on grid integration, battery storage, flexibility, stability and electrification.
- Jinko SolarsupportingJinko Solar chairs the GSC Finance Task Force and contributed to the 'How to Finance Solar for All?' position paper outlining blueprint for transforming global finance for inclusive solar deployment.
- GET.investsupportingGET.invest supported the Africa Market Outlook 2026-2029 report as a European programme that mobilises investment in renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Octopus EnergysupportingOctopus Energy supported the Africa Market Outlook report and provided CEO Zoisa North-Bond quote supporting Africa's solar boom and distributed solar expansion.
- Solar Promotion (Intersolar)coreIntersolar, founded by Solar Promotion over 30 years ago, has been instrumental in connecting the solar industry globally. GSC and Intersolar have been partners for many years, hosting events together including the 10-year anniversary celebration at COP30 in Belém.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Global Solar Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SolarPower Europe: Europe's leading solar trade association; directly comparable as a regional solar PV trade body and a current GSC partner (co-publishes the Global Solar Market Outlook), serving similar corporate members with advocacy, market intelligence, and policy engagement.
- Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC): Global trade association for the wind industry; a structurally identical organization to GSC for an adjacent clean energy sector, with similar advocacy, intelligence-report, and COP-level convening functions. GSC's Strategy Director Alyssa Pek previously served as GWEC's Chief of Staff.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA): Intergovernmental alliance launched by India and France to promote solar globally; directly comparable as another global solar coordination body, though government-led rather than industry-led like GSC.
- Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): The US national solar trade association; a direct comparable as a membership-based solar industry body doing advocacy, market intelligence, and standards work, competing for member attention in the US market.
- Smart Energy Council: Australia's peak body for the solar and storage industry and a GSC association member; directly comparable as a national/regional solar trade association serving corporate members with advocacy and policy engagement.
- China Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA): China's leading renewable energy industry association and a GSC partner on the PV Plus report; directly comparable as a national solar/renewables trade body with significant influence over global solar manufacturing.
- Global Solar Alliance: Global solar advocacy alliance and a GSC partner on the COP28 Policy Agenda; comparable as a fellow global solar coordination body focused on policy recommendations for accelerated deployment.
Broad incumbents
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): Intergovernmental organization supporting the global energy transition; comparable as a higher-level convening and policy body for renewables broadly, with overlapping agenda at COP, G20, and CEM and similar market intelligence output.
Others
- Intersolar (Solar Promotion GmbH): Organizer of the leading global solar industry exhibition series and a long-standing GSC partner; comparable as an adjacent ecosystem player that convenes the same member companies at industry events across multiple continents.
Regional players
- Clean Energy Council (Australia): Australian peak body for clean energy including solar; comparable as a regional trade association running accreditation, advocacy, and industry intelligence, serving an overlapping member base in the APAC region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Global Solar Council social profiles
Digital presenceGlobal Solar Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Global Solar Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Global Solar Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Global Solar Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Global Solar Council
What does Global Solar Council do?
Global Solar Council is a non-profit trade association that unites the global solar PV industry, representing companies and associations across the solar value chain. It advocates for supportive policies at international forums (COP, G20, CEM), publishes market intelligence reports (Africa Market Outlook, Global Solar Market Outlook), develops industry standards and best practices, and convenes members through working groups and events. Revenue is generated primarily through corporate and association membership dues.
Is Global Solar Council a public or private company?
Global Solar Council is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Global Solar Council founded?
Global Solar Council was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Global Solar Council based?
Global Solar Council is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Global Solar Council make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership dues.
Who are Global Solar Council's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SolarPower Europe, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), International Solar Alliance (ISA), Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Smart Energy Council, China Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA) and Global Solar Alliance. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is listed as a broad incumbent. Intersolar (Solar Promotion GmbH) is listed as an others. Clean Energy Council (Australia) is listed as a regional player.
Does Global Solar Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for Global Solar Council.
What industry is Global Solar Council in?
Global Solar Council's product category is Solar Industry Trade Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAK, Solar Distribution & Wholesale Supply (Channel, Procurement, Logistics), with a secondary code of EUAMABAO, Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS). Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.