Apr 08, 2025 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
The UK government has formally launched its new AI Energy Council with an aim is to align the government’s clean energy objectives with the rising demands of computing power, driven primarily by the growth of AI. The first council meeting held today (April 8) in Whitehall.
The council will be chaired by the Minister for Energy, Security, and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, and Peter Kyle, Minister for Science, Innovation, and Technology. Participants in the meeting include power generation utilities and regulators, including NESO, EDF, Scottish Power, Ofgem, and National Grid, as well as large-scale tech firms, such as Microsoft, Arm, Google, and Amazon.
“AI can play an important role in building a new era of clean electricity for our country and as we unlock AI’s potential, this Council will help secure a sustainable scale up to benefit businesses and communities across the UK,” said Miliband.
As part of the plan, the government will set up so-called AI Growth Zones, where it will speed up planning approval for the rapid buildout of data centers in areas that can access at least 500MW of power and provide them better access to the power grid.
“The work of the AI Energy Council will ensure we aren’t just powering our AI needs to deliver new waves of opportunity in all parts of the country, but can do so in a way which is responsible and sustainable,” said Kyle.
