Renewable energy leads as Power Technology lists the top five terms tweeted in May 2020, based on data from GlobalData’s Influencer Platform. The top tweeted terms are the trending industry discussions happening on Twitter by key individuals (influencers) as tracked by the platform.

1. Renewable Energy – 660 mentions

The harnessing of renewable energy for electricity generation, innovations to ditch fossil fuels and rely more wind, solar, and hydro, and energy playing a critical role in a post-Covid world, were some popularly discussed topics in May. According to an article shared by Bill McKibben, an environmentalist, author and educator, a report suggested that renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and power produced more electricity than coal every single day for 40 days straight in the US. The shift from coal to renewable happened because of falling gas prices, warm weather, and renewable capacity, the report highlighted.

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Countries such as Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands have also been collaborating to build an island that will provide renewable energy to approximately 80 million people in northwest Europe, according to Mike Hudema, a climate campaigner. The project will see the implementation of wind turbines at sea, along with solar farms on the island that will connect the UK, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark to generate maximum renewable energy.

In other news, Mark Z Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, discussed how renewable energy will be the only way forward in a post-pandemic world. Changing the world’s energy map is cheap, especially if we include the natural disasters and the cost of treating the diseases it causes, the article noted.

2. Clean Energy – 573 mentions

Generating energy through solar innovations such as solar panels on millions of homes and public buildings, and solar parks that is not only creating clean energy but thousands of jobs, were popularly discussed topics during the month. For instance, Egypt was building the world’s largest solar parks, thereby providing clean energy to 320,000 Egyptians and jobs to thousands of people, according to an article shared by Mike Hudema, the climate campaigner.

Fatih Birol, an economist and energy expert, meanwhile tweeted on how the World Energy Investment 2020 report analysed the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the global energy sector. It delved on areas such as investment trends across the sector and how it impacted clean energy transitions and energy security.

In other news, Dr Thomas Hillig, an energy consultant, shared data on the estimated number of premature deaths avoided due lower air pollutant exposure during the coronavirus lockdown. Referring to it as a side effect, the influencer added that there were 11,000 fewer deaths in Europe because of the clean air. Therefore, key areas of implementation should be cycle infrastructure, e-mobility, and clean energy, Hillig added.

3. Climate Action – 550 mentions

Funding set aside for climate action, financial institutions exiting thermal coal, and 2020 being a critical year for climate action and investments to achieve climate targets, were popularly discussed topics during the month. According to an article shared by Assaad Razzouk, a clean energy entrepreneur and investor, Denmark was going huge with its climate action plans with the energy islands.

Chris Fox, a climate change activist, meanwhile shared an article on how coal is losing its financing from other big banks such as Westpac Banking Corp. The bank announced plans to exit a thermal coal project in Australia as part of its climate action strategy.

In other news, Fatih Birol, an economist and energy expert, re-tweeted that despite renewable energy investments delivering better results than fossil fuels in countries like the US, UK, and Europe, the total volume investments were not enough to mitigate the climate change. Countries would have to double their annual investments in renewables to approximately $660bn in order to limit global warming to within two degrees Celsius by 2100, the article further noted.

4. Energy Transition – 481 mentions

How energy transition is being expedited by the coronavirus pandemic, making it the first time that coal is being used to produce electricity, and how the turmoil in oil markets will influence the clean energy transition, were popularly discussed in the month of May. According to an article shared by Ed Crooks, vice chair, Americas, the historic pause for oil demand across the globe will impact clean energy transition efforts. For instance, a new financing model for battery energy storage systems has to be in place to reduce energy demand, improve renewables integration, and reduce your carbon footprint, among others.

Arik Ring, an energy engineering expert, further tweeted on the future is equal to solar energy. He shared an article on how eco-friendly solar window panels, can convert ambient light to electricity. Developed by Ubiquitous Energy, these solar panels are designed to overcome the issues with traditional panels such as lack of space.

In other news, Julia Hamm, president and CEO of the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), discussed how the energy transition is expedited by COVID-19. The slowdown is squeezing coal, sustaining renewables, and foreshadowing ‘grid of the future’, the article noted. Both solar and wind are producing a larger share of power, and remain unharmed, the article further added.

5. Sustainability – 472 mentions

The response of governments and the integration of energy and sustainability issues into recovery plans, solar upgrades, and how the coronavirus pandemic has shifted the social media focus to the sustainable energy sector, were popularly discussed in May. According to an article shared by Fatih Birol, an economist and energy expert, the integration of energy and sustainability issues was crucial for accelerating clean energy transitions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) will provide a special report on sustainable recovery and policy advice, Fatih added.

Covid-19 has shifted the social media focus on the sustainable energy sector, according to Dr Thomas Hillig, an energy consultant. As travel bans loosen up, adaptability will be key, with mid-term marketing and communication budgets of most energy companies shifting to highly adaptable social media actions.

In other news, Mike Hudema, the climate campaigner, shared an article on how a school in Denmark is covered in solar panels. Considered to be the largest solar panel facade in the world, the Copenhagen International School is built with 12,000 solar panels on all sides that can power half the school in an year, the article highlighted. Sustainability and mindful living is what it seeks to demonstrate, while generating clean energy, the article further noted.

https://twitter.com/IEABirol/status/1265525212470284295