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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D.

@direnkocakusak.bsky.social

6.3K followers 2.1K following 320 posts

Environmental and Energy Analyst. Working at Global Energy Monitor. Opinions my own. #renewables, #climatechange, and #datascience

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Nov 15

I really like these starter packs and created one for Renewable Energy Experts and Organizations that mostly post on solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and bioenergy. Can you help me add other folks that I might have missed? Thanks ☀️

bsky.app/starter-pack...

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 20h

Over the next five years, we'll add 4,600 GW of renewables — equal to all power in China, the EU, and Japan combined. Nearly 80% will come from solar PV, as rooftops & off-grid systems boom worldwide.

TL;DR: Solar’s moving fast — really fast. ☀️

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 21h

IEA's (@iea.org) Renewables 2025 report is out. This year, solar PV is expected to account for almost 80% of all new renewable power capacity worldwide — maintaining its dominant lead. Another record year ahead: 750–840 GW total renewables, driven by the sun. ☀️💡

Report: www.iea.org/reports/rene...

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 4d

Bloomberg says AI data centers are driving up U.S. wholesale power prices — in some regions, electricity now costs up to 267% more than it did five years ago.

www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring

Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

www.bloomberg.com

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 13d

The Former Vice President Al Gore: “Of all the new electricity installed in the world last year, 93% was renewables, mostly solar.” #ClimateWeekNYC @climaterealityproject.org @globalenergymon.bsky.social

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 14d

Project Drawdown’s (@projectdrawdown.bsky.social) new free portal Drawdown Explorer fills a significant gap by turning climate science into actionable insights! Excited to dig in after #ClimateWeekNYC! Great presentation and launch by @globalecoguy.bsky.social 👏 @globalenergymon.bsky.social

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 14d

Starting the second day of the #ClimateWeekNYC at the Nest Climate Campus! Ping me if you are around!

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 15d

Great discussion on timely climate communications at CET’s Moving from Data to Dialogue to Doing panel.

“It’s like reminding someone about a seatbelt 5 seconds before driving, not 5 minutes earlier.”

How do we bring that urgency to the energy transition?
@globalenergymon.bsky.social

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 15d

First day of #ClimateWeekNYC with @globalenergymon.bsky.social!

I’m excited to follow several events on renewables, energy transition, and environmental justice 🌍 I’ll post my reflections and highlights throughout the week!!

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Reposted by Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre @business-humanrights.org · 20d

A #JustTransition is only possible if renewable energy companies respect human rights. Our latest research on 35 leading companies shows the sector is making progress on respect for rights & shared prosperity – but major gaps remain.

Read the benchmark 📊 www.business-humanrights.org/en/from-us/b...

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 19d

Just an Australian PM casually dropping a GEM reference while talking on global solar and wind development ☀️🌬️ @globalenergymon.bsky.social

www.nationaltribune.com.au/australian-p...

Australian Prime Minister Press Conference – Sydney 18 September

Well, thanks very much for joining us. This morning, I convened a meeting of our Cabinet and also a full meeting of the Federal Parliamentary Labor

www.nationaltribune.com.au

Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 19d

Are you coming to #ClimateWeekNYC 2025 and are passionate about #climatechange, #renewables, and #datascience? Let's grab a coffee! Send me a DM to connect! #greensky #energysky ☀️💨⚡🔋💡

Global Energy Monitor @globalenergymon.bsky.social · 21d

GEM is headed to #ClimateWeekNYC! 🌍

Our team will be there September 21–28 to connect with partners and peers.

If you’ll be in town too, let’s connect! DM us for more info.

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 21d

Dear JPMorganChase,

"Energy security" is not a new paradigm.

Sincerely,
Literature

www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/...

Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 22d

If you are coming to New York to join #ClimateWeekNYC and are passionate about #climatechange, #renewables, and #datascience, let's grab a coffee! Send me a DM to connect! #greensky #energysky ☀️💨⚡🔋💡

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 28d

Community solar is key to passing the benefits of solar energy to renters and homeowners without the means to invest in rooftop solar. ILSR (@ilsr.bsky.social) tracks the steady increase in community solar programs across the US ☀️☀️

ilsr.org/articles/com...

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · 29d

SEIA & Wood Mackenzie reported that Solar and Storage dominate new power additions in H1 2025. Solar accounted for 56% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the US grid. Combined, solar and storage accounted for 82% of new capacity in the first half of the year.

Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Sep 4

Gavin's analysis is interesting!

Solar’s pipeline is shrinking. 🌞

U.S. developers have lowered planned solar capacity from ~112 GW in 2024 to ~92 GW in 2025.

Solar still makes up a big slice of the future grid—but policy shifts, higher costs & grid bottlenecks are slowing growth.

Gavin Maguire @gavinjmaguire.bsky.social · Sep 4

US gas power capacity is set to jump while capacity plans for solar & wind are being trimmed back.

That's what the latest data from @globalenergymon.bsky.social shows.

More in today's column:
www.reuters.com/markets/comm...

US gas power capacity set for big jump as renewables growth slows

U.S. power developers are planning to sharply boost natural gas and hydropower generation capacity and are cutting back on plans to add new solar and wind farms, according to recent data on the U.S. power capacity pipeline.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D.

Global Energy Monitor @globalenergymon.bsky.social · Sep 4

High costs and long timelines have stalled nuclear power worldwide.

Nearly 40% of all nuclear projects ever proposed have been cancelled — 566 GW in total, more than the world’s entire operating & retired fleets combined.

Learn more in our latest analysis: globalenergymonitor.org/report/nucle...

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Sep 2

I also love their graphics!!

US and UK net-zero solar plans would take up "at most" 1% of farmland!

Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Sep 2

I just read this brilliant article on @carbonbrief.org by @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social and @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org 👏👏👏

❌ Solar power is an ‘unreliable source of energy’
❌ Solar power is ‘a serious threat to agriculture and food security’

interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/so...

Factcheck: 16 misleading myths about solar

Carbon Brief factchecks 16 of the most common myths about solar power

interactive.carbonbrief.org

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Aug 20

USEIA reported that the United States added 12 GW of utility-scale solar in the first half of 2025, and another 21 GW is planned to become operational by year’s end.

Solar will make up over half of the 64 GW of new capacity coming online this year.

www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Aug 18

Congratulations Dr. Kopp!

Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Aug 15

A fast energy transition doesn't always mean just energy transition. Communities living near power plants must share benefits, not just burdens!

www.bbc.com/news/article...

The village in Peru that lives in the dark next to a massive solar plant

Pampa Clemesí, in southern Peru, remains in complete darkness despite being near the country’s largest solar plant.

www.bbc.com

Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Aug 14

In the first five months of 2025, renewables led the way in OECD electricity generation, accounting for 358.5 TWh (41.7% of total), narrowly surpassing fossil fuels. Nuclear supplied 16.5%.

From @iea.org: www.iea.org/data-and-sta...

Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Aug 7

Oh, one more thing. It's not about using our land efficiently or for better things. They are also cancelling programs supporting low- and moderate-income families to install rooftop solar. These projects don't require a dedicated space!

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/c...

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Diren Kocakuşak, Ph.D. @direnkocakusak.bsky.social · Aug 7

Also, "ugly monsters"?? They should've made Samuel L. Jackson say that in this commercial!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bunG...