Dylan McConnell
@dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social
Renewable Energy & Energy Systems Researcher at University of NSW (..but also I live in Melbourne)
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
OKAY BIG ONE FOR YA
NEW report out today: I dig deep into how big tech has been muddling tech types and overstating evidence to claim "AI" will make global emissions drop like a stone....
Not only will it not, it seems to be verifiably doing the opposite!!
ketanjoshi.co/2026/02/17/b... + 📼+🧵>
NEW report out today: I dig deep into how big tech has been muddling tech types and overstating evidence to claim "AI" will make global emissions drop like a stone....
Not only will it not, it seems to be verifiably doing the opposite!!
ketanjoshi.co/2026/02/17/b... + 📼+🧵>
February 17, 2026 at 6:48 AM
OKAY BIG ONE FOR YA
NEW report out today: I dig deep into how big tech has been muddling tech types and overstating evidence to claim "AI" will make global emissions drop like a stone....
Not only will it not, it seems to be verifiably doing the opposite!!
ketanjoshi.co/2026/02/17/b... + 📼+🧵>
NEW report out today: I dig deep into how big tech has been muddling tech types and overstating evidence to claim "AI" will make global emissions drop like a stone....
Not only will it not, it seems to be verifiably doing the opposite!!
ketanjoshi.co/2026/02/17/b... + 📼+🧵>
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
"In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits."
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws
In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limi...
www.computerworld.com
September 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
"In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits."
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
I am not sure you could come up with a worse put down of the Liberal front bench than James Paterson saying "Angus is the smartest policy brain in the shadow cabinet”
live.thepoint.com.au
live.thepoint.com.au
The Point Live: It's on for the Liberals, protests planned for Melbourne in response to Isaac Herzog's planned visit
Angus Taylor resigned from the front bench but is yet to announce when he will officially challenge for the leadership. Melbourne protesters prepare for the arrival of Israeli president, Isaac Herzog...
live.thepoint.com.au
February 12, 2026 at 1:55 AM
I am not sure you could come up with a worse put down of the Liberal front bench than James Paterson saying "Angus is the smartest policy brain in the shadow cabinet”
live.thepoint.com.au
live.thepoint.com.au
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Absolutely huge crowd in Melbourne right now.
People from all backgrounds, ages and professions - united in opposition to genocide and war.
This is what social cohesion looks like.
People from all backgrounds, ages and professions - united in opposition to genocide and war.
This is what social cohesion looks like.
February 12, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Absolutely huge crowd in Melbourne right now.
People from all backgrounds, ages and professions - united in opposition to genocide and war.
This is what social cohesion looks like.
People from all backgrounds, ages and professions - united in opposition to genocide and war.
This is what social cohesion looks like.
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Only six months late but I really enjoyed this preso from @dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social touching on one of my favourite niche energy topics: diesel! Pipeline gas has real challenges meeting seasonal peaking needs - big tanks of liquid fuel are a great complement
www.ceem.unsw.edu.au/sites/defaul...
www.ceem.unsw.edu.au/sites/defaul...
February 12, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Only six months late but I really enjoyed this preso from @dylanjmcconnell.bsky.social touching on one of my favourite niche energy topics: diesel! Pipeline gas has real challenges meeting seasonal peaking needs - big tanks of liquid fuel are a great complement
www.ceem.unsw.edu.au/sites/defaul...
www.ceem.unsw.edu.au/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
I am absolutely not kidding
Discord's new age verification rules got you down? Allow me to suggest an alternative: Internet Relay Chat
Launched in 1988, IRC was created by and for computer nerds, and it won't hold your hand but it also doesn't want to see your face.
www.pcgamer.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:22 PM
I am absolutely not kidding
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
He’s not wrong.
February 10, 2026 at 8:10 AM
He’s not wrong.
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
With the LNP vote hitting 18%, it’s a good reminder of this 1988 cover
February 8, 2026 at 11:04 PM
With the LNP vote hitting 18%, it’s a good reminder of this 1988 cover
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
The Washington Post was consistently doing some of the best climate reporting out there in recent years. This is a huge loss (h/t @sammyroth.bsky.social) open.substack.com/pub/climatec...
Breaking: Washington Post gutting its climate team
Clean energy dies in darkness. Courtesy of Jeff Bezos.
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:40 PM
The Washington Post was consistently doing some of the best climate reporting out there in recent years. This is a huge loss (h/t @sammyroth.bsky.social) open.substack.com/pub/climatec...
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand)
Results:
Last week: 100.0% RE
Last 232 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)
Results:
Last week: 100.0% RE
Last 232 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)
February 4, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand)
Results:
Last week: 100.0% RE
Last 232 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)
Results:
Last week: 100.0% RE
Last 232 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
January was another above-average month in Australia…not a big surprise but the size of the area with average maximums for the month of 39C or higher is notable:
February 1, 2026 at 8:31 AM
January was another above-average month in Australia…not a big surprise but the size of the area with average maximums for the month of 39C or higher is notable:
Underlying demand, and underlying demand ex-solar contribution (both utility and rooftop) over the last week or so ... 🔌💡
January 31, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Underlying demand, and underlying demand ex-solar contribution (both utility and rooftop) over the last week or so ... 🔌💡
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Solar provided 59% of electricity in the Australian national (east coast) grid between 9am and 6pm over the past week. It was 30% of total generation.
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Australia’s grid now relies on renewable energy as much as coal. Those who doubted it look foolish
Solar met the majority of electricity demand between 9am and 6pm in the past week as much of the country cranked air conditioners
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Solar provided 59% of electricity in the Australian national (east coast) grid between 9am and 6pm over the past week. It was 30% of total generation.
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Life moves pretty fast etc.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
lol these actually look like ducks..
🔌💡
🔌💡
January 30, 2026 at 2:41 AM
lol these actually look like ducks..
🔌💡
🔌💡
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
In August 2021, I started running weekly simulations of Australia's main electricity grid to show that it's possible to get very close to 100% renewable supply with just enough storage to supply average demand for 5 hours.
Here are learnings from 4 years of simulations:
/1
Here are learnings from 4 years of simulations:
/1
January 29, 2026 at 7:31 PM
In August 2021, I started running weekly simulations of Australia's main electricity grid to show that it's possible to get very close to 100% renewable supply with just enough storage to supply average demand for 5 hours.
Here are learnings from 4 years of simulations:
/1
Here are learnings from 4 years of simulations:
/1
.. what a difference 17 years makes.
Previous peak day in Victoria - (29 Jan 2009) - virtually no wind and solar. 🔌💡
Previous peak day in Victoria - (29 Jan 2009) - virtually no wind and solar. 🔌💡
January 29, 2026 at 8:01 AM
.. what a difference 17 years makes.
Previous peak day in Victoria - (29 Jan 2009) - virtually no wind and solar. 🔌💡
Previous peak day in Victoria - (29 Jan 2009) - virtually no wind and solar. 🔌💡
Love the concept of AI code being a "Denial-of-service attack on our human effort."
(From FastAPI AI Contribution Guidelines: fastapi.tiangolo.com/contributing...)
(From FastAPI AI Contribution Guidelines: fastapi.tiangolo.com/contributing...)
January 28, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Love the concept of AI code being a "Denial-of-service attack on our human effort."
(From FastAPI AI Contribution Guidelines: fastapi.tiangolo.com/contributing...)
(From FastAPI AI Contribution Guidelines: fastapi.tiangolo.com/contributing...)
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Record breaking electricity demand in both Victoria and Sth Australia yesterday.
Wind & solar performed very well, reducing residual demand by 28% & 58% respectively.
4th highest ever demand on the NEM as a whole, with wind & solar reducing residual demand by 30%
Here's stats from post 2023 data
Wind & solar performed very well, reducing residual demand by 28% & 58% respectively.
4th highest ever demand on the NEM as a whole, with wind & solar reducing residual demand by 30%
Here's stats from post 2023 data
January 27, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Record breaking electricity demand in both Victoria and Sth Australia yesterday.
Wind & solar performed very well, reducing residual demand by 28% & 58% respectively.
4th highest ever demand on the NEM as a whole, with wind & solar reducing residual demand by 30%
Here's stats from post 2023 data
Wind & solar performed very well, reducing residual demand by 28% & 58% respectively.
4th highest ever demand on the NEM as a whole, with wind & solar reducing residual demand by 30%
Here's stats from post 2023 data
Ended up just under 300MW higher than previous peak.
More interesting, is the timing - can clearing see the impact of rooftop solar - shifting the peak from 17 years ago occuring ~1:30pm, c.f. today occuring at 7pm (local time). 🔌💡
More interesting, is the timing - can clearing see the impact of rooftop solar - shifting the peak from 17 years ago occuring ~1:30pm, c.f. today occuring at 7pm (local time). 🔌💡
January 27, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Ended up just under 300MW higher than previous peak.
More interesting, is the timing - can clearing see the impact of rooftop solar - shifting the peak from 17 years ago occuring ~1:30pm, c.f. today occuring at 7pm (local time). 🔌💡
More interesting, is the timing - can clearing see the impact of rooftop solar - shifting the peak from 17 years ago occuring ~1:30pm, c.f. today occuring at 7pm (local time). 🔌💡
So we have a new record peak demand for Vic tonight (and still climbing!)
Update: currently on track for a new record demand for Victoria (at least by one measure).
And as previously, actual demand still running above earlier forecasts.
And as previously, actual demand still running above earlier forecasts.
January 27, 2026 at 7:49 AM
So we have a new record peak demand for Vic tonight (and still climbing!)
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Record temperatures, bushfires, meh fire up those data centres that use stonks of water and require a shit tonne of electricity
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Labor to fast-track data centre approvals as OECD flags energy strain
The global body said the cloud computing boom meant Canberra would need to make additional efforts to meet its 2050 net zero carbon emissions target.
www.afr.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Record temperatures, bushfires, meh fire up those data centres that use stonks of water and require a shit tonne of electricity
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Update: currently on track for a new record demand for Victoria (at least by one measure).
And as previously, actual demand still running above earlier forecasts.
And as previously, actual demand still running above earlier forecasts.
January 27, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Update: currently on track for a new record demand for Victoria (at least by one measure).
And as previously, actual demand still running above earlier forecasts.
And as previously, actual demand still running above earlier forecasts.
Reposted by Dylan McConnell
Victoria has set a new all-time heat record at just under 49C, while Doiyh Australia has set its equal-fourth hottest day (and equal 10th nationally for January). Via BoM
January 27, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Victoria has set a new all-time heat record at just under 49C, while Doiyh Australia has set its equal-fourth hottest day (and equal 10th nationally for January). Via BoM