The UK’s AI Energy Council will today address one of the most pressing challenges of the AI era: how to power the next wave of artificial intelligence breakthroughs.
With a projected twenty-fold increase in compute capacity over the next five years, the Council is bringing together energy providers, tech firms, Ofgem, and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to forecast and plan for the sector’s soaring energy needs.
The meeting, chaired by the Technology and Energy Secretaries, will explore how to ensure the UK’s energy infrastructure can support the rapid expansion of AI technologies — from personalised medicine and sustainable aviation to climate change solutions.
Compute — the processing power behind AI — is the backbone of innovation. As demand surges, the Council will assess how AI adoption across sectors could reshape national energy consumption. Discussions will focus on forecasting models, infrastructure readiness, and the assumptions needed to future-proof the grid.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
“Giving our researchers and innovators access to the processing power they need will not only maintain our standing as the world’s third-biggest AI power, but put British expertise at the heart of the AI breakthroughs which will improve our lives, modernise our public services, and spark the economic growth which is the cornerstone of our Plan for Change.
“We are clear-eyed though on the need to make sure we can power this golden era for British AI through responsible, sustainable energy sources. Today’s talks will help us drive forward that mission, delivering AI infrastructure which will benefit communities up and down the country for generations to come without ever compromising on our clean energy superpower ambitions.”
This follows the government’s recent £2 billion AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to embed AI across public services and create AI Growth Zones to unlock investment and jobs in local communities.
The Council will also review progress on grid connection reforms, which could release over 400GW of capacity from the connection queue — a move expected to turbocharge AI projects and accelerate economic growth.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, also commented:
“We are making the UK a clean energy superpower, building the homegrown energy this country needs to get bills down for good and create new jobs as part of our Plan for Change.
“Bringing together the biggest players in AI and energy will help us discuss the role AI can play an important role in building a new era of clean electricity for our country, and meeting the power demands of new technology as we build a clean power system for families and businesses.”
Communities across the UK have already expressed interest in hosting AI Growth Zones, which will serve as hubs for innovation and job creation.
The AI Energy Council, established in January, is central to the government’s Plan for Change, ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI while building a resilient, future-ready energy system.
Image credit: iStock
