£1.5 million towards promoting AI for reducing carbon emissions

The UK Government has launched a new programme to support the use of AI for reducing carbon emissions

The AI for decarbonisation programme, part of the government’s 31 billion Net Zero Innovation programme, has been granted £1.5 million in funding. The funding will comprise separate streams of grant funding to be launched in 2 initial stages.

• Stream 1, worth up to £500,000, will be made available to co-fund a virtual centre of excellence on AI innovation and decarbonisation into March 2025.
• Stream 2, worth up to £1 million, will fund innovation projects which further the development of AI technologies to support decarbonisation.

AI innovation and the journey to net zero

Later in 2023, the government intends to make additional funding available to support priority areas in AI innovation identified by the virtual centre of excellence as critical for achieving net zero.

Science Minister George Freeman said, “the UK is one of the world’s most advanced AI economies, and AI technology is already having a transformative impact on our economy and society. But there is tremendous potential to do more.”

“The AI for Decarbonisation programme offers an exciting opportunity to leverage and develop the UK’s outstanding expertise in the field. Putting this rapidly evolving technology into action will enable us to save energy costs for businesses and households, create high-value, skilled jobs, and kickstart millions of pounds of private investment while supporting our net zero targets”.

The promotion of AI for reducing carbon emissions

Programmes like this aim to stimulate further innovation within the UK AI sector while driving growth and achieving the country’s net zero ambitions. According to the government press release, the grant will encourage collaboration in the field across technology, energy and industrial sectors.

The programme builds on ideas developed in the National AI Strategy published last year, which set out how AI can support the UK in meeting its decarbonisation targets.

The AI for Decarbonisation Programme is anticipated to increase market growth in the UK, reduce energy costs for a more competitive UK industry, leverage private investment in AI, and increase the consideration of ethics, bias and equity in AI technologies with decarbonisation applications.