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Dylan McConnell

@dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social

Renewable Energy & Energy Systems Researcher at University of NSW (..but also I live in Melbourne)

1264 Posts3735 Follower424 Folgt
Dylan McConnell@dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social · last wk.

.. "Consumers should brace for hefty increases in the cost of generating electricity as data centres suck up vast quantities of power faster than new plants can be built" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

'Mismatch' between data centres and power projects that has experts worried

Consumers should brace for hefty increases in the cost of generating electricity as data centres suck up vast quantities of power faster than new plants can be built, experts say.

abc.net.au

Natalia Cecire @ncecire.bsky.social · 2w ago

Does anyone have favorite references on the interdisciplinarity penalty (people doing interdisciplinary work are underrewarded in their appointing departments, run centers and degrees without resources or dedicated hires, go to double committee meetings, etc.)?

Emily Grubert@gruberte.bsky.social · 2w ago

In which I yell at my favorite journal and its thoughtful, talented collection of researchers that we really need to take fossil phase-out seriously as a line of inquiry, and that we would not stand for the level of talking around it as a solution in other settings with very obvious problems:

The state of energy transition research and the need for fossil phase-out: evidence from Environmental Research Letters

The state of energy transition research and the need for fossil phase-out: evidence from Environmental Research Letters, Grubert, Emily

iopscience.iop.org

Dylan McConnell@dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social · 3w ago

Only tangentially related (I think?) but was reminded of this passage (bottom para) in the latest Quarterly Essay Would much rather be writing code than reviewing it or managing it ..

Photo of para in latest Quarterly Essay (QE102): "The God We Made" by Anna Goldsworthy "But it is one thing to be delivered of busywork; it is another to be relieved of meaningful occupation. There are many ways we find purpose in work, ranging from the satisfaction of a job well done to the sense of contributing to something beyond ourselves. Just because a task can be automated does not mean it should be. In a conversation with Oliver Burkeman, behavioural strategist Samuel Salzer identifies the danger of "automation drift," citing the example of a writer who suddenly finds themselves editing rather than writing, when "what they used to enjoy doing was the writing part and they hated editing." Burkeman notes that this is a version of the phenomenon of being "kicked upwards" out of the job you are good at and into management. For some this may be a happy landing; others may find"
Dylan McConnell@dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social · 4w ago

Great article on AI & code "the never-ending slop submissions take serious mental toll to manage & sometimes also a long time to debunk. Time & energy that is completely wasted while also hampering our will to live" (technically about maintenance but broadly applicable) www.ft.com/content/cec8...

Dylan McConnell@dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social · 4w ago

Spoke to ABC about datacentre things today, alongside Bronwyn Cumbo from UTS Pathologically refuse to listen to myself - so can't really tell you exactly what was said, but tl;dr (should be?) along lines of not great for emissions, prices, energy transition etc www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Is it true what they say about data centres? - ABC listen

Continuing our deep dive into data centres, two experts look closely at the energy and environmental issues that concern communities living near proposed data centre sites.  Guests:  Dr Dylan McConn...

abc.net.au

David Fickling@davidfickling.bsky.social · last mo.

‘Energy skeptics’ in 2016: “This extreme weather event that caused problems in South Australia’s 40% clean grid is PROOF RENEWABLES DON’T WORK.” ‘Energy skeptics’ in 2026: “This extreme weather event that didn’t cause problems in South Australia’s 85% clean grid is PROOF RENEWABLES DON’T WORK.”

Dylan McConnell@dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social · last mo.

Attention fellow energy nerds: we're running an "Open-Source Energy System Modelling Workshop" later this year! Looking for contributors - presentations, demonstrations, tutorials, and open discussion on topics relevant to the open-source energy modelling community .. anything really! 🔌💡

Tim Baxter@timinclimate.naruresearch.com.au · last mo.

I've put a new piece of analysis out today showing how Shell's Prelude LNG terminal will receive a butt tonne of free offset credits from the safeguard mechanism for no other reason than because it repeatedly exposed its workers from life threatening risk. Really!

1 – Shell’s Prelude liquefied gas facility will receive in the order of $200 million worth of unearned offset credits under the rules of Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism 2 – This unearned bounty is not linked to emissions reduction at the facility. The credits are instead being issued as a direct result of a series of life-threatening safety issues and a workers strike at the facility in the early years of the facility’s operating life. 3 – Prelude is one of Australia’s most emission-intensive liquefied gas producers. Its emissions have risen in recent years and are set to increase even further even while it continues to receive free offset units. 4 – Prelude can use the free and entirely unearned credits it was issued under the current Safeguard Mechanism rules to avoid buying a single offset credit until well into the next decade.