June 2026
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This conference brought 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 included 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. It followed publication of the Government’s recent Interim AI Adoption Plan: Clean Energy, focusing on addressing implementation challenges through a more structured and phased approach to deployment, and raising questions around the extent to which regulatory frameworks, data and digital infrastructure are aligned to support delivery at scale. The report’s author Lucy Yu - UK Government AI Champion for Clean Energy - delivered a keynote address at this conference.
Questions around regulatory clarity and governance were 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 expected 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 included 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 considered 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, such as AI Growth Zones. Attendees considered 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 looked at 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 use in critical infrastructure & environmental impact
Priorities for responsible deployment for use of AI within critical energy infrastructure were assessed. Areas for discussion included 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 also addressed 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 examined the interaction between AI initiatives and electricity network planning, including implications of connection queues and rapidly growing data centre demand for grid capacity. Discussion focused on 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 assessed the impact of government plans to prioritise AI data centres in the connections queue and expected reform to judicial review of major infrastructure projects, as well as implications for regional capacity constraints, cost allocation, and programme sequencing.
Lessons emerging from current trials and pilot projects were explored, looking at how they can inform wider operational use. This includes priorities for data access, testing environments, interoperability standards and governance. Opportunities were also 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, reflecting on constraints highlighted in the Interim AI Adoption Plan: Clean Energy.
Attendees examined approaches to tackling integration challenges such as limitations of existing data architecture, AI deployment within existing control systems, cybersecurity risks, and a lack of transparency across networks.
Skills & infrastructure for AI
Delegates considered approaches to meeting the growing demand for AI, data science and power-systems expertise, including a 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 also examined 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.
As well as key stakeholders those attending included 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; Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, NI; Climate Change Committee; Great British Energy; Department for Education; Department for Business and Trade; Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Department of Health and Social Care; Department for Transport; Department for the Economy, NI; Government Legal Department; Government Office for Science; Environment Agency; Health and Safety Executive; HM Treasury; Ministry of Defence; National Cyber Security Centre; National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority; National Audit Office; Ofcom; Department for the Economy, NI; Planning Inspectorate; Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Office for Investment; National Wealth Fund; UK Export Finance; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
