UK AI Energy Council convenes to tackle massive upcoming AI power needs.
The council met with UK energy providers, tech players, Ofgem, and NESO to forecast energy demand for a 20x boost in AI compute capacity over five years. This surge in compute power is crucial for training AI models and will fuel breakthroughs in healthcare, sustainable travel, and climate tech.
The talks also covered which sectors will quickly adopt AI and how that will reshape energy use across the country. 
The council is chaired by the UK Technology and Energy Secretaries and builds off the government’s recent £2bn AI Opportunities Action Plan.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Peter Kyle laid it out:
“We are clear-eyed 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.”
The meeting also looked ahead at the UK’s AI Growth Zones plan, designed to unlock billions in investment and create new jobs nationwide. Communities are lining up to host these AI hubs.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband added:
“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.”
Since launching the AI Energy Council in January, the government has pushed reforms with Ofgem and NESO to clear the grid connection queue. If finalized, more than 400GW of extra capacity could open up, accelerating AI projects vital to economic growth.
This council is shaping how the UK’s energy grid will power the next wave of AI innovation — fast, clean, and massive.
