The Manchester Prize is back to foster innovation in AI for clean energy.
- The British government aims for green power by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
- A £2m prize will reward projects that accelerate decarbonising the electricity grid.
- The competition is open to UK-led teams with a deadline of 17 January 2025.
- Minister for AI Feryal Clark highlights the potential of AI across various sectors.
The Manchester Prize has been reintroduced to support AI innovation within the clean technology sector. This initiative offers a £2m reward for up to ten projects that contribute towards decarbonising the electricity grid using artificial intelligence. It reflects the British government’s commitment to achieving fully green energy by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
First announced during the 2023 Spring Budget by then-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the Manchester Prize is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology along with Challenge Works. Professor Paul Monks, chief scientific adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, stated that this competition acknowledges the need for an ambitious approach to applying AI in energy systems.
Minister for AI, Feryal Clark, remarked on AI’s existing benefits and the untapped potential it holds. She emphasised that the second round of the competition aims to harness British innovation to ensure a clean and secure energy future. The prize seeks projects that can significantly aid in either enabling low-cost clean energy technology or optimising energy use to reduce demand.
The competition stipulates that entries must be led by UK teams, although international collaborators are permitted. The deadline for submissions is set for midday on 17 January 2025. Projects from the previous year’s competition included innovative initiatives such as Aiolus, AssetScan, and Greyparrot Insight.
Reflecting on the previous year, the finalists of the Manchester Prize demonstrated impactful solutions with AI digital twin projects and tools for infrastructure and waste management. These highlights demonstrate the potential for AI to address significant challenges in clean technology and help meet the environmental targets set forth by the government.
The Manchester Prize serves as a significant effort to drive AI innovation in the clean energy sector, aligning with the UK’s long-term environmental goals.
