The UK is stepping up preparations to support the explosive growth of artificial intelligence by ensuring its energy infrastructure can meet rising compute demands. The AI Energy Council, a cross-sector body launched earlier this year, held its second meeting this week to accelerate planning and coordination between energy providers, tech firms, regulators and government.
With AI compute needs forecast to increase twenty-fold over the next five years, the Council is focused on securing sufficient power to drive innovation in healthcare, climate science and transport. Compute capacity—the processing backbone behind AI models—is central to breakthroughs across multiple sectors.
Chaired jointly by Science Secretary Peter Kyle and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, the meeting reinforced a commitment to powering AI expansion through sustainable energy sources. Kyle described the moment as a “golden era for British AI,” while Miliband stressed AI’s potential to support the clean energy transition through enhanced grid management and system efficiency.
The Council includes energy giants EDF and Scottish Power, regulator Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator, and tech leaders such as Microsoft, ARM, Google and Amazon. Together, they are working to unlock over 400GW of grid capacity by reforming the UK’s connection system—a move that could accelerate AI-driven projects and boost economic growth.
The energy effort is a cornerstone of the government’s AI Growth Zones strategy, which aims to fast-track the development of AI data centres across the UK. These zones are designed to attract major investment, create new jobs and stimulate regional innovation. The initiative feeds into the wider AI Opportunities Action Plan, which focuses on building secure, sustainable AI infrastructure, increasing domestic compute power and expanding global partnerships.
Alongside energy and infrastructure, the plan addresses key enablers such as improved data access via a National Data Library and expanded AI talent programmes, including scholarships to increase diversity in the field. Regulators are also being asked to enable responsible innovation through clear safeguards and forward-looking policies.
The government is exploring advanced energy solutions, including small modular nuclear reactors, to meet AI’s power needs without compromising climate targets. This reflects a broader strategy to align technological ambition with net-zero goals—ensuring the UK remains a clean energy leader while scaling up its AI ecosystem. The AI Energy Council’s ongoing work signals a coordinated, long-term approach to powering transformative technology. By linking energy resilience with AI readiness, the UK is setting a model for how countries can lead responsibly in the age of artificial intelligence.
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