The British government has unveiled the second Manchester Prize, offering £2m to foster AI innovations aimed at clean energy solutions.
- Announced in the 2023 Spring Budget, the prize targets AI projects to help decarbonise the UK’s electricity grid by 2030.
- Entries must showcase AI’s potential in enabling low-cost clean energy operations or optimising energy use.
- UK-led teams can participate, with projects potentially involving international partners.
- The deadline for submissions is set for midday on 17 January 2025.
Initiated during the 2023 Spring Budget announcement by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the Manchester Prize represents a strategic move by the British government to promote advancements in artificial intelligence focused on clean energy. The prize is funded with £2m, aimed at rewarding up to ten projects within the AI sector. This initiative is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in collaboration with Challenge Works, part of the registered charity Nesta. This government-led effort aligns with the UK’s commitment to achieving a fully green electricity grid by the year 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
As the second iteration of the competition, the Manchester Prize seeks to capitalise on the potential of AI to drive significant developments in energy and sustainability. Minister for AI, Feryal Clark, highlighted the transformative impact AI can have across various sectors, including energy and healthcare. She emphasised that the prize is designed to bring forth innovative British solutions to ensure the UK’s energy future is both clean and secure.
The competition encourages applications that demonstrate practical applications of AI, particularly those that enable low-cost operations of clean energy technologies at a large scale or significantly reduce energy demands through optimised usage. Entries must be led by teams based in the UK, although they can collaborate with international partners. This approach aims to foster global cooperation while prioritising homegrown talent and ideas.
Chief scientific adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Prof Paul Monks, underscored the urgency of addressing the climate and nature crisis. He praised the prize’s focus on AI for its ambitious approach towards innovation in energy systems’ development, engineering, and operations. He remarked on the importance of embracing technologies that can effectively contribute to the UK’s decarbonisation objectives.
Participants interested in the Manchester Prize must submit their entries by midday on 17 January 2025. Last year’s finalists showcased projects leveraging AI for digital twins, infrastructure defect management, and waste detection, indicating the broad scope and potential impact of AI in addressing environmental challenges.
The Manchester Prize serves as a catalyst for AI-driven innovations aimed at achieving the UK’s clean energy goals.
