Government ministers will meet leading energy companies and tech firms this week to discuss how to support the UK’s growing ambitions in artificial intelligence, while ensuring the country’s energy infrastructure can keep up sustainably. The new AI Energy Council, announced as part of the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, will convene for the first time on Tuesday. Co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for Energy and Technology, the group will bring together representatives from major energy providers such as EDF, Scottish Power, Ofgem and the National Grid, as well as tech giants including Microsoft, Google, AWS and British semiconductor company Arm.
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The meeting marks an important first step in determining the Council’s objectives, with an initial focus on boosting clean energy production and developing AI infrastructure. As AI technologies become increasingly central to the UK economy, concerns are growing around their high energy consumption. Large language models and other AI systems require significant computational power, which in turn places new demands on the national grid. The Council is expected to play a pivotal role in identifying solutions that allow AI development to continue in a sustainable and secure manner.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted the dual goals of progress and responsibility, stating that the Council’s work would ensure the UK meets its AI energy demands without compromising its commitment to sustainability. “This requires a broad range of expertise from industry and regulators,” he said, “as we fire up the UK’s economic engine to make it fit for the age of AI.” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband added that AI has a vital role to play in transitioning the UK towards a clean energy future, and that the new council would help to “secure a sustainable scale-up to benefit businesses and communities”.
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However, the initiative has already faced criticism from opposition MPs. Acting Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie warned that Labour’s net zero ambitions could hamper economic growth and push energy prices even higher. He claimed the creation of another council would not mask what he called “Labour’s ideology-first, national-interest-second approach”, and pointed to Microsoft’s reported frustrations over grid connections as an example. The debate signals that the intersection of AI, energy, and environmental goals will remain a key political battleground as the UK aims to lead in emerging technologies.
