UK convenes tech and energy giants for first AI Energy Council meeting
Aims to align tech growth with clean energy goals
The newly established AI Energy Council brings together representatives from across the energy and technology sectors, including major power utilities, regulators, and tech giants.
The UK government convened the first official meeting of its newly established AI Energy Council on Tuesday, 8th April, in Whitehall.
The Council, first announced in January 2025, is co-chaired by Ed Miliband, Minister for Energy, Security and Net Zero, and Peter Kyle, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The group brings together representatives from across the energy and technology sectors, including major power utilities, regulators, and tech giants.
Attendees at the inaugural meeting included energy sector stalwarts including the National Energy System Operator (NESO), EDF, Scottish Power, National Grid, and Ofgem, and major tech firms including Microsoft, Google, ARM, and Amazon.
The Council is expected to meet quarterly, with its recommendations shaping both national AI strategy and the evolution of the UK's energy landscape.
"AI can play an important role in building a new era of clean electricity for our country," said Miliband following the meeting.
"As we unlock AI's potential, this Council will help secure a sustainable scale-up to benefit businesses and communities across the UK."
The Council has been formed in direct response to the increasing energy demands created by AI development, especially large-scale datacentres. These energy-intensive operations have become central to the UK's Plan for Change, a sweeping national strategy designed to position the country as an AI superpower.
A recent study by Loughborough University projected that if current growth rates persist, global datacentre energy consumption could surpass the total volume of electricity production by 2033.
Earlier this year, the government launched AI Growth Zones – strategically located areas with accelerated planning approvals and enhanced access to grid infrastructure. Each zone will require a minimum of 500MW of power availability to support the rapid development of datacentres, which are essential to driving forward AI research, digital services, and economic innovation.
The government has also been collaborating with Ofgem and NESO on fundamental reforms to the UK's grid connections process. These reforms aim to unlock over 400GW of capacity currently stuck in the connection queue.
"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.
The AI Energy Council is also expected to play a key role in delivering the UK's Clean Power Action Plan, which outlines steps toward decarbonising electricity generation by 2030. One of the foundational reforms announced in alignment with this plan is the overhaul of the UK's outdated grid connection system.
Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, said: "AI will play an increasingly important role in transforming our energy system to be cleaner, more efficient, and more cost-effective for consumers, but only if used in a fair, secure, sustainable and safe way."
"Working alongside other members of this Council, Ofgem will ensure AI implementation puts consumer interests first – from customer service to infrastructure planning and operation – so that everyone feels the benefits of this technological innovation in energy."
Alison Kay, Vice President, UK and Ireland, at AWS, stated: "At Amazon, we're working to meet the future energy needs of our customers, while remaining committed to powering our operations in a more sustainable way, and progressing toward our Climate Pledge commitment to become net-zero carbon by 2040."
"As the world's largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy for the fifth year in a row, we share the government's goal to ensure the UK has sufficient access to carbon-free energy to support its AI ambitions and to help drive economic growth."