Michael
Dello-Iacovo

Energy, AI, data centres, and the long-term future I write about the intersection of energy systems, artificial intelligence, and data centre infrastructure in Australia. With a PhD in space science and experience in energy policy and consumer advocacy, I try to bring analytical rigour to questions that matter for the future.
PhD Space Science,
UNSW Sydney
10+ Years writing about
science & policy
Energy Experience at Transgrid
and Energy Consumers Australia
Effective altruism Former CEO, Effective
Altruism Australia
Michael Dello-Iacovo speaking at UNSW
What I Write About

Making sense of complex systems

I focus on topics where technical depth and policy thinking overlap, and where getting the details right has real consequences.
⚡

Energy & Innovation

Australia’s electricity system, battery and demand management innovation, distribution planning, and the policy architecture that shapes consumer outcomes. I’ve authored a rule change request for the National Electricity Rules.

🧠

AI & Data Centres

The energy demands of AI infrastructure, data centre demand forecasts, phantom load, and who should pay for grid upgrades. Where the AI boom meets the energy transition.

🚀

Space & Science

Asteroid deflection, off-Earth mining, directed panspermia, and the long-term future of humanity. My PhD explored seismic exploration on other planetary bodies.

🌍

Effective Altruism

Evidence-based giving, cause prioritisation, and applying analytical thinking to doing the most good. I’ve pledged to donate my income above a modest threshold to effective charities since 2016.

📜

Policy & Governance

How regulatory systems actually work, theories of change for technical policy reform, and the surprisingly accessible pathways for outsiders to shape outcomes.

🤔

Ethics & Philosophy

AI safety and governance, animal welfare, climate ethics, and the complicated moral questions that don’t have clean answers.

Background

Where I’m coming from

A unique path through space science, consumer advocacy, effective altruism, and energy policy.

Career

Manager of Network Innovation Transgrid (2026–) Leading network innovation and driving the development of non-network solutions.
Executive Manager, Advocacy & Policy Energy Consumers Australia (2024–2026) Led energy policy reform. Authored rule change requests and submissions for the National Electricity Market.
Strategy Lead & Researcher Sentience Institute (2022–2024) Research on social movements and the moral consideration of all sentient beings.
CEO Effective Altruism Australia (2016–2017) Directed grants to evidence-based charities and grew the EA movement in Australia.
Geophysicist Santos (2013–2016) Seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation in Australia’s energy industry.

Education & Other

PhD, Space Science UNSW Sydney Seismic exploration for asteroid deflection, off-Earth mining, and colonisation. Research at NASA JPL.
BSc (Hons), Geophysics University of Adelaide Honours thesis on South Australia’s geothermal energy potential.
Political candidate Animal Justice Party Five elections across all three levels of Australian government.
Science communicator Space Science Guy YouTube & TikTok. TV, radio, and media appearances on asteroid risk, AI, energy, and ethics.
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© 2026 Michael Dello-Iacovo · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · “I change my mind more than I update my blog.”