John Merchant
@johnmerchant.bsky.social
👨🏻💻 Software Engineer / Consultant
🏭 Whyalla, South Australia
🏭 Whyalla, South Australia
Mr and Mrs Bluetongue
November 4, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Mr and Mrs Bluetongue
Murphy’s Haystacks
November 4, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Murphy’s Haystacks
This is my rock
November 4, 2025 at 12:42 PM
This is my rock
Reposted by John Merchant
The battery boom has begun 🔋⚡️
2024: 69 GW storage added, +66% YoY. Growth looks more like smartphones than power plants—modular, fast, unstoppable. With costs still falling, 2025 will likely surge another 60–70%. The fastest-growing energy in history? Batteries + solar. #BESS #Lithium #Solar #LFP
2024: 69 GW storage added, +66% YoY. Growth looks more like smartphones than power plants—modular, fast, unstoppable. With costs still falling, 2025 will likely surge another 60–70%. The fastest-growing energy in history? Batteries + solar. #BESS #Lithium #Solar #LFP
August 30, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Reposted by John Merchant
Tesla Officially Launches FSD in Australia & New Zealand; Introduces 30-Day Free Trial
Tesla Officially Launches FSD in Australia & New Zealand; Introduces 30-Day Free Trial
Tesla has officially launched FSD (Supervised) in Australia and New Zealand. A deep dive into the staged rollout, the standard 30-day free trial and the pricing… Read More
www.notateslaapp.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Tesla Officially Launches FSD in Australia & New Zealand; Introduces 30-Day Free Trial
The whale watching operation at Fowlers Bay is conservation best practice. They need to be granted an exemption to continue operations.
chng.it/mV5gMcYc6p
chng.it/mV5gMcYc6p
Sign the Petition
Support EP Cruises: Protect Local Tourism & Conservation Efforts
chng.it
August 25, 2025 at 5:54 AM
The whale watching operation at Fowlers Bay is conservation best practice. They need to be granted an exemption to continue operations.
chng.it/mV5gMcYc6p
chng.it/mV5gMcYc6p
Reposted by John Merchant
We’ve normalised traffic danger and pollution for decades. But freedom to drive shouldn’t come at the cost of freedom to walk safely, breathe clean air, or let kids go to school without being gassed. Road harm isn’t inevitabl, it’s a design choice. Let’s choose better.
August 11, 2025 at 12:02 AM
We’ve normalised traffic danger and pollution for decades. But freedom to drive shouldn’t come at the cost of freedom to walk safely, breathe clean air, or let kids go to school without being gassed. Road harm isn’t inevitabl, it’s a design choice. Let’s choose better.
Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre
June 27, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre
Telstra satellite direct-to-cell appears to work for my iPhone 15 Pro in outback SA. I can send and receive SMS and iMessage, text only.
There are also off-grid Telstra 4G towers with satellite, solar and what appears to be batteries. The speeds and ping are great considering how remote it is!
There are also off-grid Telstra 4G towers with satellite, solar and what appears to be batteries. The speeds and ping are great considering how remote it is!
June 26, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Telstra satellite direct-to-cell appears to work for my iPhone 15 Pro in outback SA. I can send and receive SMS and iMessage, text only.
There are also off-grid Telstra 4G towers with satellite, solar and what appears to be batteries. The speeds and ping are great considering how remote it is!
There are also off-grid Telstra 4G towers with satellite, solar and what appears to be batteries. The speeds and ping are great considering how remote it is!
Milky Way from Beltana, Flinders Ranges
June 23, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Milky Way from Beltana, Flinders Ranges
Finally, a spot of rain in Whyalla
May 26, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Finally, a spot of rain in Whyalla
Reposted by John Merchant
“We were surprised”
Electric trucks ready to overtake diesel on lifetime cost
thedriven.io/2025/05/20/w...
@thedriven.io
Don't be surprised, just be happy
The time for electric trucks is from now on
Electric trucks ready to overtake diesel on lifetime cost
thedriven.io/2025/05/20/w...
@thedriven.io
Don't be surprised, just be happy
The time for electric trucks is from now on
May 20, 2025 at 5:54 AM
“We were surprised”
Electric trucks ready to overtake diesel on lifetime cost
thedriven.io/2025/05/20/w...
@thedriven.io
Don't be surprised, just be happy
The time for electric trucks is from now on
Electric trucks ready to overtake diesel on lifetime cost
thedriven.io/2025/05/20/w...
@thedriven.io
Don't be surprised, just be happy
The time for electric trucks is from now on
Reposted by John Merchant
Aspire 9.3 new dashboard features, day 7:
It's release day and there's a surprise dashboard feature. GitHub Copilot is your new AI debugging assistant 🚀
📒 Review hundreds of log messages in one click
🚨 Find root causes of errors faster
🧠 Explain error codes using AI's vast knowledge base
It's release day and there's a surprise dashboard feature. GitHub Copilot is your new AI debugging assistant 🚀
📒 Review hundreds of log messages in one click
🚨 Find root causes of errors faster
🧠 Explain error codes using AI's vast knowledge base
May 19, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Aspire 9.3 new dashboard features, day 7:
It's release day and there's a surprise dashboard feature. GitHub Copilot is your new AI debugging assistant 🚀
📒 Review hundreds of log messages in one click
🚨 Find root causes of errors faster
🧠 Explain error codes using AI's vast knowledge base
It's release day and there's a surprise dashboard feature. GitHub Copilot is your new AI debugging assistant 🚀
📒 Review hundreds of log messages in one click
🚨 Find root causes of errors faster
🧠 Explain error codes using AI's vast knowledge base
Reposted by John Merchant
Reposted by John Merchant
A cluster of 100 autonomous electric mining trucks have been put into operation at a giant open pit mine in Inner Mongolia
100 autonomous electric trucks begin work in giant Mongolia mine
A cluster of 100 autonomous electric mining trucks have been put into operation at a giant open pit mine in Inner Mongolia.
thedriven.io
May 20, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A cluster of 100 autonomous electric mining trucks have been put into operation at a giant open pit mine in Inner Mongolia
Reposted by John Merchant
Many people think solar and wind won't be able to keep the grid stable because they lack "inertia".
I think solar, wind and batteries will do a BETTER job and I think you can explain it thus:
- the old grid is a record player
- the new grid a digital player
🧵
I think solar, wind and batteries will do a BETTER job and I think you can explain it thus:
- the old grid is a record player
- the new grid a digital player
🧵
May 18, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Many people think solar and wind won't be able to keep the grid stable because they lack "inertia".
I think solar, wind and batteries will do a BETTER job and I think you can explain it thus:
- the old grid is a record player
- the new grid a digital player
🧵
I think solar, wind and batteries will do a BETTER job and I think you can explain it thus:
- the old grid is a record player
- the new grid a digital player
🧵
Reposted by John Merchant
Three questions lie at the heart of any discussion of the transition to net zero. How to decarbonize the grid; how to maintain grid stability; and how to do both affordably. How one neglected approach could provide a big part of the answers…
mliebreich.substack.com/p/decarboniz...
mliebreich.substack.com/p/decarboniz...
Decarbonizing the last few percent
Three questions lie at the heart of any discussion of the transition to net zero. How to decarbonize the grid; how to maintain grid stability; and how to do both affordably.
mliebreich.substack.com
May 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Three questions lie at the heart of any discussion of the transition to net zero. How to decarbonize the grid; how to maintain grid stability; and how to do both affordably. How one neglected approach could provide a big part of the answers…
mliebreich.substack.com/p/decarboniz...
mliebreich.substack.com/p/decarboniz...
Reposted by John Merchant
Volvo accelerates plans to build heavy electric trucks in Australia after a record order of electric prime movers from transport group Linfox
Volvo to build heavy electric trucks in Australia after record breaking order
Volvo accelerates plans to build heavy electric trucks in Australia after a record order of electric prime movers from transport group Linfox.
thedriven.io
May 16, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Volvo accelerates plans to build heavy electric trucks in Australia after a record order of electric prime movers from transport group Linfox
Reposted by John Merchant
NEW from me: China's CO2 emissions fell ~1.6% in the first quarter and have now been flat or down for more than a year. This is the first time on record that emissions are falling due to clean energy growth, not slow power demand.
NEW – Analysis: Clean energy just put China’s CO2 emissions into reverse for first time | @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/6eAcjRU
Read here: buff.ly/6eAcjRU
May 15, 2025 at 5:45 AM
NEW from me: China's CO2 emissions fell ~1.6% in the first quarter and have now been flat or down for more than a year. This is the first time on record that emissions are falling due to clean energy growth, not slow power demand.
Reposted by John Merchant
EV sales expected to jump in 2025 to more than 20 million, with price parity reached in key markets, particularly in China and south-east Asia
Global EV sales to hit 20 million in 2025, as prices hit parity in key markets
EV sales expected to jump in 2025 to more than 20 million, with price parity reached in key markets, particularly in China and south-east Asia.
thedriven.io
May 14, 2025 at 11:35 PM
EV sales expected to jump in 2025 to more than 20 million, with price parity reached in key markets, particularly in China and south-east Asia
I should really spend more time on here, but nonchalantly engaging in Socratic dialogue with the trolls on bird app is somehow an effective learning tool for me. Intellectual resistance training?
May 15, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I should really spend more time on here, but nonchalantly engaging in Socratic dialogue with the trolls on bird app is somehow an effective learning tool for me. Intellectual resistance training?
Reposted by John Merchant
Roughly a 1600km round trip for Mitch, as he drove over from Victoria to visit us in Adelaide, South Australia. We really appreciate his commitment to the .NET developer community.
May 14, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Roughly a 1600km round trip for Mitch, as he drove over from Victoria to visit us in Adelaide, South Australia. We really appreciate his commitment to the .NET developer community.
Reposted by John Merchant
Thanks again @mitchdenny.dev for coming over to show us .NET Aspire. Your enthusiasm was infectious, and we can't wait to see what new features get announced at #MSBuild next week!
Safe travels home and we hope you visit again soon 👋 #dotnet #dotnetAspire
Safe travels home and we hope you visit again soon 👋 #dotnet #dotnetAspire
May 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Thanks again @mitchdenny.dev for coming over to show us .NET Aspire. Your enthusiasm was infectious, and we can't wait to see what new features get announced at #MSBuild next week!
Safe travels home and we hope you visit again soon 👋 #dotnet #dotnetAspire
Safe travels home and we hope you visit again soon 👋 #dotnet #dotnetAspire
Reposted by John Merchant
Correction: This is another example of an entire ecosystem distorted by global warming due to greenhouse gas pollution.
Algal blooms are a symptom of ecological degradation, not the ultimate cause.
Algal blooms are a symptom of ecological degradation, not the ultimate cause.
‘A horror movie’: sharks and octopuses among 200 species killed by toxic algae off South Australia
‘A horror movie’: sharks and octopuses among 200 species killed by toxic algae off South Australia
Karenia mikimotoi algae can suffocate fish, cause haemorrhaging and act as a neurotoxin, one expert says
* Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as an email
More than 200 marine species, including deepwater sharks, leafy sea dragons and octopuses, have been killed by a toxic algal bloom that has been affecting South Australia’s coastline since March.
Nearly half (47%) of the dead species were ray-finned fish and a quarter (26%) were sharks and rays, according to OzFish analysis of 1,400 citizen scientist reports.
Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as an email Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
May 13, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Correction: This is another example of an entire ecosystem distorted by global warming due to greenhouse gas pollution.
Algal blooms are a symptom of ecological degradation, not the ultimate cause.
Algal blooms are a symptom of ecological degradation, not the ultimate cause.
Reposted by John Merchant
People keep saying “$600 billion” because it’s within the realm of sober, cautious estimates, from a trusted source (albeit with a vested interest). Given the Coalition’s history and the global track record of nuclear, it’s arguably a conservative midpoint.
May 13, 2025 at 2:07 AM
People keep saying “$600 billion” because it’s within the realm of sober, cautious estimates, from a trusted source (albeit with a vested interest). Given the Coalition’s history and the global track record of nuclear, it’s arguably a conservative midpoint.