Morning, Thursday, 18th June 2026
Online
This conference will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to assess the future for AI use across the UK energy sector, as well as latest thinking on meeting the rapidly growing AI data centre demand for grid capacity.
Areas for discussion include implications for electricity networks, infrastructure planning, regulation, and the transition to clean power - with a focus on what is needed for reliable and responsible AI deployment to support system efficiency, flexibility, resilience, and decarbonisation in practice.
Questions around regulatory clarity and governance will be explored, considering questions around transparency in algorithmic processes and accountability of AI-supported decision-making, as well as reliability and testing of AI systems used in critical infrastructure. We also expect discussion on how uncertainties for international investment in infrastructure might be addressed - in the context of concerns reportedly expressed about the impact of UK regulatory frameworks and energy costs.
Further areas for discussion include data access and interoperability standards, enhancing cybersecurity testing to support system resilience and stronger supply chain assurance, and strategies to achieve public and consumer trust in automated or AI‑assisted energy system processes.
Regulation, market frameworks & system oversight
The agenda considers the evolving regulatory landscape, including next steps arising from the DESNZ Review of AI deployment in the electricity networks, Ofgem’s AI Technical Sandbox initiative, and the Government’s wider programme on AI infrastructure, including AI Growth Zones. Attendees will consider how policy and market frameworks might need to respond to the rapid growth in electricity demand associated with AI infrastructure and what this could mean for grid capacity, connection reform and strategic planning.
Discussion will consider the need for improved risk classification of AI applications to inform proportionate assurance, verification and operational oversight, alongside whether more prescriptive regulatory requirements may be needed for higher-risk operation tools used in system balancing, forecasting or energy network management.
AI in critical infrastructure & environmental impact
Priorities for responsible deployment for use of AI within critical energy infrastructure will be assessed. Areas for discussion include how anticipated gains in efficiency, flexibility, and renewable integration can be secured while addressing key concerns around power demand, sustainability, and system resilience - alongside examining strategies to ensure automated systems do not compromise reliability, fairness or safety.
The agenda will also address the environmental implications of AI tools, including electricity and water demands associated with large-scale data centres, low‑emission siting and cooling strategies, and approaches for assessing lifecycle emissions of AI infrastructure to support alignment with the UK’s net zero trajectory, as well as questions around how environmental impacts should be factored into strategic planning and regulatory decisions.
Planning, sequencing, AI integration & learning from deployment so far
Sessions will examine the interaction between AI initiatives and electricity network planning, including implications of connection queues and rapidly growing data centre demand for grid capacity. Discussion is expected on the connection and planning arrangements that may be needed as major data centre developments are taken forward alongside new clean generation and network reinforcement projects. Delegates will assess the impact of government plans to prioritise AI data centres in the connections queue, and implications for regional capacity constraints, cost allocation, and programme sequencing.
Lessons emerging from current trials and pilot projects will be explored and how they can inform wider operational use. This includes priorities for data access, testing environments, interoperability standards, and governance if AI tools are to be adopted more widely. Opportunities will be considered for improving forecasting accuracy for renewable generation and weather variability, system balancing, dispatch optimisation, battery and storage management, fault detection, and predictive maintenance across networks.
Attendees will examine approaches to tackling integration challenges such as limitations of existing data architecture, AI deployment within existing control systems, cybersecurity risks, and lack of transparency across networks.
Skills & infrastructure for AI
Delegates will consider approaches to meeting the growing demand for AI, data science and power-systems expertise, including the need for specialist training pathways, upskilling of existing staff, and opportunities for greater collaboration between the industry, academia and the Government to ensure workforce readiness as AI deployment accelerates.
Discussion will also examine the availability of the necessary infrastructure - such as computing infrastructure, specialist hardware and digital systems - for AI deployment across energy networks, as well as ways forward for investment, and how strategic planning frameworks can better coordinate energy and digital infrastructure development, including sequencing of generation, storage and network upgrades.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs; Great British Energy; Department for Business and Trade; Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; Government Legal Department; Government Office for Science; Health and Safety Executive; HM Treasury; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; National Cyber Security Centre; Department for the Economy NI; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
