Tom Harvey
@tom.electron-one.com
Here to talk climate, energy transition and tech startups. Or, maybe sometimes, things that aren’t my job.
🏠 Valencia, Spain 🇪🇸
👶🏻 Glasgow, Scotland 🏴
… took the scenic route between them
🏠 Valencia, Spain 🇪🇸
👶🏻 Glasgow, Scotland 🏴
… took the scenic route between them
Reposted by Tom Harvey
is that a lot
ICYMI: Microsoft’s charge “implies a more than $12 billion quarterly loss at OpenAI, said Firoz Valliji, an analyst at Bernstein.”
That “would mark one of the largest single-quarter losses for a tech company in history.”
@jessefelder.bsky.social $MSFT
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
That “would mark one of the largest single-quarter losses for a tech company in history.”
@jessefelder.bsky.social $MSFT
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
November 7, 2025 at 10:08 PM
is that a lot
Reposted by Tom Harvey
“China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. This trend will continue simply because renewables are cheap.” 🔌💡
Gift link: China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
Gift link: China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
“China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. This trend will continue simply because renewables are cheap.” 🔌💡
Gift link: China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
Gift link: China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
Reposted by Tom Harvey
"Spain’s rapid renewables build-out means its power prices were set by fossil generation just 19% of the time, down from 75% in 2019. As a result, wholesale electricity was almost a third cheaper than the EU average"
Imagine having cheaper power
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Imagine having cheaper power
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Spain’s Renewable-Energy Boom Loosens Gas’s Grip on Power Prices
Soaring renewables output in Spain is weakening gas’s grip on electricity prices, setting the country apart from much of Europe where fossil fuels still dictate the cost of power.
www.bloomberg.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:15 PM
"Spain’s rapid renewables build-out means its power prices were set by fossil generation just 19% of the time, down from 75% in 2019. As a result, wholesale electricity was almost a third cheaper than the EU average"
Imagine having cheaper power
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Imagine having cheaper power
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Tom Harvey
Ooh, Adam Curtis is back.
"...life in Britain today has become strange - a hazy dream-like flux in which no one can predict what is coming next. While distrust in politicians keeps growing. And the political class seem to have lost control."
"...life in Britain today has become strange - a hazy dream-like flux in which no one can predict what is coming next. While distrust in politicians keeps growing. And the political class seem to have lost control."
Shifty - A new series by Adam Curtis coming to BBC iPlayer in June 2025
Shifty shows, in a new and imaginative way, how over the past 40 years in Britain extreme money and hyper-individualism came together in an unspoken alliance
www.bbc.com
May 26, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Ooh, Adam Curtis is back.
"...life in Britain today has become strange - a hazy dream-like flux in which no one can predict what is coming next. While distrust in politicians keeps growing. And the political class seem to have lost control."
"...life in Britain today has become strange - a hazy dream-like flux in which no one can predict what is coming next. While distrust in politicians keeps growing. And the political class seem to have lost control."
Reposted by Tom Harvey
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that his country will submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly calling for "urgent action to stop the massacre of civilians in Gaza and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip."
#gaza #palestine #israel #aid #blockade
#gaza #palestine #israel #aid #blockade
Spain announces urgent UN action to stop massacre in Gaza
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that his country will submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly calling for "urgent action to stop the massacre of civilians in Gaza and ensur...
www.saba.ye
May 8, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that his country will submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly calling for "urgent action to stop the massacre of civilians in Gaza and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip."
#gaza #palestine #israel #aid #blockade
#gaza #palestine #israel #aid #blockade
Reposted by Tom Harvey
Much ado about the role of renewable energy (RE) in the Spanish blackout. The investigation into the effective cause is still ongoing, but many pointed to the fact that RE has no ‘inertia’. Is that true? The answer is: yes, but ... 🧵
May 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Much ado about the role of renewable energy (RE) in the Spanish blackout. The investigation into the effective cause is still ongoing, but many pointed to the fact that RE has no ‘inertia’. Is that true? The answer is: yes, but ... 🧵
Turns out individual actions aren’t the real problem; systemic change is needed to solve climate change … again.
But make it “AI”
Some great⚡️analysis here from @hannahritchie.bsky.social which I’ve massively oversimplified for an intro.
🔌💡
www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/carbon-foo...
But make it “AI”
Some great⚡️analysis here from @hannahritchie.bsky.social which I’ve massively oversimplified for an intro.
🔌💡
www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/carbon-foo...
What's the carbon footprint of using ChatGPT?
Very small compared to most of the other stuff you do.
www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com
May 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Turns out individual actions aren’t the real problem; systemic change is needed to solve climate change … again.
But make it “AI”
Some great⚡️analysis here from @hannahritchie.bsky.social which I’ve massively oversimplified for an intro.
🔌💡
www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/carbon-foo...
But make it “AI”
Some great⚡️analysis here from @hannahritchie.bsky.social which I’ve massively oversimplified for an intro.
🔌💡
www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/carbon-foo...
Reposted by Tom Harvey
I’m skeptical about the $3 billion valuation of a VSCode fork that relies on an AI API service it doesn’t own.
May 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I’m skeptical about the $3 billion valuation of a VSCode fork that relies on an AI API service it doesn’t own.
I was listening to @trientertainment.bsky.social … and then “something unexpected happened” when Marina Hyde revealed a new Adam Curtis film called Shifty due out in June!
Podcast went out 6 days ago but I can’t find any more about it. I did learn that there is a DJ called Adam Shifty tho.
Podcast went out 6 days ago but I can’t find any more about it. I did learn that there is a DJ called Adam Shifty tho.
May 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I was listening to @trientertainment.bsky.social … and then “something unexpected happened” when Marina Hyde revealed a new Adam Curtis film called Shifty due out in June!
Podcast went out 6 days ago but I can’t find any more about it. I did learn that there is a DJ called Adam Shifty tho.
Podcast went out 6 days ago but I can’t find any more about it. I did learn that there is a DJ called Adam Shifty tho.
I thought it was remarkably fast! 👏
Getting the cities (mostly) back online before night fall was a huge win in so many ways.
When/if we learn more about the causes it’ll become clear how it came back online. But it’s my understanding that there was black start required.
Getting the cities (mostly) back online before night fall was a huge win in so many ways.
When/if we learn more about the causes it’ll become clear how it came back online. But it’s my understanding that there was black start required.
Question for 🔌💡 folks! Isn't it sort of a big deal that the Iberian peninsula got power restored so quickly? Or did this not get bad enough to reach "black start" conditions? www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-we-d...
Q&A: What we do – and do not – know about the blackout in Spain and Portugal - Carbon Brief
Carbon Brief examines what is known about the Spanish and Portuguese power cuts, the role of renewables and how the media has responded.
www.carbonbrief.org
May 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I thought it was remarkably fast! 👏
Getting the cities (mostly) back online before night fall was a huge win in so many ways.
When/if we learn more about the causes it’ll become clear how it came back online. But it’s my understanding that there was black start required.
Getting the cities (mostly) back online before night fall was a huge win in so many ways.
When/if we learn more about the causes it’ll become clear how it came back online. But it’s my understanding that there was black start required.
Rapid (your views may vary) recovery of the Spanish grid. For those on #energysky who are following our news.
10hr after the blackout. At 70% of predicted load. Detail in the alt text.
Long way to go to meet tomorrow’s peak.
Src: (in Spanish and behind paywall) elpais.com/espana/2025-...
10hr after the blackout. At 70% of predicted load. Detail in the alt text.
Long way to go to meet tomorrow’s peak.
Src: (in Spanish and behind paywall) elpais.com/espana/2025-...
April 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Rapid (your views may vary) recovery of the Spanish grid. For those on #energysky who are following our news.
10hr after the blackout. At 70% of predicted load. Detail in the alt text.
Long way to go to meet tomorrow’s peak.
Src: (in Spanish and behind paywall) elpais.com/espana/2025-...
10hr after the blackout. At 70% of predicted load. Detail in the alt text.
Long way to go to meet tomorrow’s peak.
Src: (in Spanish and behind paywall) elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Probably shouldn’t have made snarky comments about the Texas grid this morning… Of all days… When I live in Spain. 🌚 #energysky
April 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Probably shouldn’t have made snarky comments about the Texas grid this morning… Of all days… When I live in Spain. 🌚 #energysky
I would be remiss not to live post from #spain to #energysky today; here’s the grid mix now (massive blackout across the country) vs yesterday. Courtesy of @electricitymaps.com
Looks like the gas and nuclear have *vanished*.
But solar is ~half of what is was yesterday. And it’s plenty ☀️ today
Looks like the gas and nuclear have *vanished*.
But solar is ~half of what is was yesterday. And it’s plenty ☀️ today
April 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I would be remiss not to live post from #spain to #energysky today; here’s the grid mix now (massive blackout across the country) vs yesterday. Courtesy of @electricitymaps.com
Looks like the gas and nuclear have *vanished*.
But solar is ~half of what is was yesterday. And it’s plenty ☀️ today
Looks like the gas and nuclear have *vanished*.
But solar is ~half of what is was yesterday. And it’s plenty ☀️ today
If the infra (power grids) aren’t there yet - use what you have.
Can’t help but think of this old quote.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...
Can’t help but think of this old quote.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...
April 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
If the infra (power grids) aren’t there yet - use what you have.
Can’t help but think of this old quote.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...
Can’t help but think of this old quote.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...
Reposted by Tom Harvey
New way to improve accuracy of electricity price forecasts #energysky -- via pv magazine global: www.pv-magazine.com/...
New way to improve accuracy of electricity price forecasts
Researchers at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) have developed a new filtering technique to improve electricity price forecasts by refining historical price data before applying predictive models.
www.pv-magazine.com
March 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
New way to improve accuracy of electricity price forecasts #energysky -- via pv magazine global: www.pv-magazine.com/...
Reposted by Tom Harvey
Well I think I've fully come around to the idea that LLMs are computers. So I wrote about that. I guess this is my most bombastic blog post www.phillipcarter.dev/posts/llms-c...
LLMs Are Weird Computers
A perspective on AI models as an inverted computing paradigm
www.phillipcarter.dev
March 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Well I think I've fully come around to the idea that LLMs are computers. So I wrote about that. I guess this is my most bombastic blog post www.phillipcarter.dev/posts/llms-c...
I’ve spent the past 4ish weeks wrestling with my own realisation of this. And here it is all written out neatly. Perfectly describing the journey and (so far) conclusions. 👌🏻
This post @phillipcarter.dev wrote a few weeks ago on why "LLMs are Weird Computers" has taken up permanent real estate in my head. (I definitely owe him rents by now.)
www.phillipcarter.dev/posts/llms-c...
www.phillipcarter.dev/posts/llms-c...
LLMs Are Weird Computers
A perspective on AI models as an inverted computing paradigm
www.phillipcarter.dev
March 24, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I’ve spent the past 4ish weeks wrestling with my own realisation of this. And here it is all written out neatly. Perfectly describing the journey and (so far) conclusions. 👌🏻
Reposted by Tom Harvey
Electricity prices are up 40% since 2021 but fossil fuels are cheap. The power isn't any cleaner, either.
Here's a free link where I dig into the cost spike and show why normal improvements are passed off as sustainability initiatives.
medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub
Here's a free link where I dig into the cost spike and show why normal improvements are passed off as sustainability initiatives.
medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub
March 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Electricity prices are up 40% since 2021 but fossil fuels are cheap. The power isn't any cleaner, either.
Here's a free link where I dig into the cost spike and show why normal improvements are passed off as sustainability initiatives.
medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub
Here's a free link where I dig into the cost spike and show why normal improvements are passed off as sustainability initiatives.
medium.com/the-new-clim...
🔌💡 #energyhub
Reposted by Tom Harvey
An Iphone can be optimized to charge when your grid has more renewables and thereby reduce your carbon impact.
Below is a very brief video demonstrating how to do that.
For the visually impaired, I have written instructions in the comments.
#energysky #greensky #energytransition
Below is a very brief video demonstrating how to do that.
For the visually impaired, I have written instructions in the comments.
#energysky #greensky #energytransition
March 16, 2025 at 10:09 AM
An Iphone can be optimized to charge when your grid has more renewables and thereby reduce your carbon impact.
Below is a very brief video demonstrating how to do that.
For the visually impaired, I have written instructions in the comments.
#energysky #greensky #energytransition
Below is a very brief video demonstrating how to do that.
For the visually impaired, I have written instructions in the comments.
#energysky #greensky #energytransition
Anyone on #energysky got this?
Anyone have a reliable website/resource to convert wattage to easily understandable terms, eg 1 GW = x households a year?
December 20, 2024 at 7:21 PM
Anyone on #energysky got this?
Reposted by Tom Harvey
"Simplicity requires discipline." - Dr. Werner Vogels.
This is now one of my favorite quotes It perfectly captures the mindset needed to tackle complex systems. Here are some other key takeaways: 🧵
This is now one of my favorite quotes It perfectly captures the mindset needed to tackle complex systems. Here are some other key takeaways: 🧵
December 16, 2024 at 7:10 AM
"Simplicity requires discipline." - Dr. Werner Vogels.
This is now one of my favorite quotes It perfectly captures the mindset needed to tackle complex systems. Here are some other key takeaways: 🧵
This is now one of my favorite quotes It perfectly captures the mindset needed to tackle complex systems. Here are some other key takeaways: 🧵
Reposted by Tom Harvey
Stands to reason if you imagine technology works like Star Trek. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
December 16, 2024 at 7:13 AM
Stands to reason if you imagine technology works like Star Trek. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Tom Harvey
Seeing consistent interest in this starter pack - who's missing? Just added @jgkoomey.bsky.social! 🔌💡
December 15, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Seeing consistent interest in this starter pack - who's missing? Just added @jgkoomey.bsky.social! 🔌💡
Reposted by Tom Harvey
The fossil fueled power plant closures never seem to draw nearly as much mainstream and social media attention as do the renewable energy shortfalls.
German ⚡️power price went above €1000/MWh (avg is 75) last week.
Weather meant 16GW less renewable generation than usual. Blasted intermittent sources!
There was also 11GW of fossil generation unavailable, due to malfunctions. Tech malfunctions. Definitely not Enron-esque trading malfunctions.
🔌💡
Weather meant 16GW less renewable generation than usual. Blasted intermittent sources!
There was also 11GW of fossil generation unavailable, due to malfunctions. Tech malfunctions. Definitely not Enron-esque trading malfunctions.
🔌💡
Short-term power prices spike amid new ‘Dunkelflaute’ in Germany, most customers unaffected
www.cleanenergywire.org
December 14, 2024 at 11:48 PM
The fossil fueled power plant closures never seem to draw nearly as much mainstream and social media attention as do the renewable energy shortfalls.
Reposted by Tom Harvey
So if this keeps happening, energy tariffs will rise accordingly
December 15, 2024 at 2:22 PM
So if this keeps happening, energy tariffs will rise accordingly