The establishment of the Global Solar Council (GSC) on the sidelines of COP21 was not merely symbolic—it reflected the urgent need for a unified voice for the solar power industry in the global energy transition.
After a decade of growth and consolidation, GSC is now entering a critical new phase: expanding its role from a technical and technological representative to a global policy and communications leader, as solar energy becomes the world’s fastest-growing power source.
Why does GSC need a new role?
Previously, solar energy was often seen as a “supplementary source” within the traditional power system. However, three key factors have fundamentally reshaped this perception:
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Rapid decline in solar technology costs:
Solar electricity prices have fallen by more than 80% over the past decade, making solar one of the most competitive energy sources globally. -
Central role in the Net Zero roadmap:
Analyses by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) both highlight that solar power and energy storage will be core drivers in achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050. -
The rise of energy communication:
The global energy transition is no longer a purely technical process—it has become a communication and narrative race. The solar industry faces growing risks from misinformation, counter-lobbying efforts, and slow regulatory adaptation in various markets.
In this context, GSC must evolve from a passive representative to an active influencer, and that is why the Global Solar Connect (September 2025) event marks a pivotal milestone.
Global Solar Connect: Launching a new era of coordination
The workshop organized by GSC, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and ClimateWorks Foundation, laid the foundation for two major strategic shifts:
(1) The “Five Pillars of an Effective Solar Association”
This framework aims to strengthen the advocacy capacity of national solar associations, emphasizing:
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Policy competence
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Reliable data and scientific evidence
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Financial sustainability
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Regional and global linkages
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Professional energy communication
This model helps national associations move beyond being mere “industry information gateways” to becoming policy-shaping actors.
(2) The Global Solar Communication Network
As energy competition increasingly moves from technology to public perception, GSC’s new media network seeks to:
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Counter organized misinformation
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Highlight more national and regional solar success stories
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Develop unified policy messages to improve solar literacy among stakeholders
This effort is especially critical ahead of COP30, where solar and energy storage are expected, for the first time, to be addressed as strategic infrastructure, not just renewable energy sources.
Vietnam: From rapid growth to sustainable development
Vietnam stands as one of the fastest solar power developers in the world between 2019 and 2021, adding over 16.5 GW of capacity in a remarkably short period. However, after this rapid expansion, the market is now entering a phase of regulatory reform and institutional adjustment.
GSC’s experience offers key lessons for Vietnam in the coming decade:
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From capacity expansion to system integration:
Solar must be closely linked with energy storage, flexible dispatch, and ancillary service markets, instead of focusing solely on installed capacity. -
From “incentive-driven” to “system value-driven” investment:
New pricing mechanisms are needed to reflect the grid relief value, regional energy security, and system flexibility contributions of solar. -
From a technical narrative to a policy narrative:
To retain its leading role in ASEAN, Vietnam needs a more professional policy advocacy model, connecting associations, businesses, and regulators, similar to GSC’s global coordination framework.
As Vietnam prepares to update its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and adjust Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), deeper participation in global solar networks not only enhances international visibility, but also facilitates access to climate finance, especially in energy storage—the missing link in the post-FIT era.
Conclusion
The GSC’s new chapter demonstrates that the global solar sector is entering a new dimension of influence—where policy advocacy and communication strategies are as decisive as technology and cost in shaping the pace of energy transition.
For Vietnam, one of the world’s fastest-growing solar markets, this presents a clear opportunity to integrate more deeply into global solar networks, upgrade policy capacity, and attract green finance, paving the way toward a sustainable and resilient energy future in the coming decade.
Source: Dr. Nguyễn Anh Tuấn (B) – Scientific Council, Vietnam Energy Magazine
