The UK government is reaching out to researchers and entrepreneurs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) to help build clean energy systems and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. They’re inviting applications for funding to create technologies that can decarbonize the national energy grid and enhance energy security while also aiming to establish the UK as a leader in clean energy.
This funding opportunity comes with the launch of the second round of the Manchester Prize, an initiative started by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to foster AI-driven innovation over the next decade. The first phase wraps up in April 2025, focusing on how AI can improve energy, the environment, and infrastructure.
In this new round, the government will award up to £100,000 to ten applicants. One standout winner will receive a £1 million prize to continue developing their AI technologies. Applications close on January 17, 2025.
The government urges applicants to showcase their innovations that can provide low-cost energy, decrease energy demand, and enhance energy efficiency across the country. Ideas can range from increasing power generation from wind and solar farms to using AI for better energy management in homes and businesses. There’s also an emphasis on understanding potential spikes in energy demand with the help of technology.
Feryal Clark, the UK minister for AI, highlights the potential of this prize to bring about significant changes. She believes AI can improve public services, boost productivity, and address critical societal challenges. “AI is already helping in many areas, but we have so much more to discover,” she said.
Paul Monks, chief scientific adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, stressed the gravity of the climate crisis. He acknowledges that tackling climate change is the most pressing long-term challenge we face. That’s why the UK aims to decarbonize its electricity grid by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. He emphasizes the need for ambitious use of AI in developing and operating energy systems, welcoming the Manchester Prize’s focus on decarbonization.