Two-thirds of the UK back mission to be a clean energy superpower

The new findings from a nationally representative survey conducted by Opinium on behalf of the Manchester Prize found that a third of people (34%) would like to see the UK take a greater leadership role in helping the world achieve net zero with two in five (39%) saying the UK should prioritise getting ahead of other major economies in the development of green tech in the next five years.

Minister for AI, Feryal Clark MP said: “As set out in our Plan for Change, our mission is to make the UK a clean energy superpower. We are securing home-grown energy, protecting billpayers, and driving progress towards achieving clean power by 2030, while accelerating the UK’s path to net zero.

“We are deploying every tool in the box to reach this goal, not least through the Manchester Prize which is supporting game-changing advances in artificial intelligence to deliver real change for communities across the country.”

The Manchester Prize is a multi-million-pound challenge prize from the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to reward UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good – it is delivered by Challenge Works (a Nesta enterprise). In its second year, it is rewarding UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence that will accelerate action towards the UK’s ambitious clean energy and net zero goals.

The survey found that 42% of people believe that countries that embrace AI technologies now, will be more successful in ten years’ time than those that don’t, with almost half of people (47%) believing the UK should invest in supporting the development of home-grown AI technologies.

More than a third of people would like to see AI technologies developed in the UK that cut the cost of producing renewable energy (36%), reduce our dependence on energy imported from overseas (36%) and help make their home energy more efficient (33%).

Professor Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Manchester Prize judge said: “Earlier this month, the government published its groundbreaking Clean Power Action Plan, embarking on a new era of clean electricity.

“A vital part of this is ensuring we have an energy system which is capable of meeting the country’s needs.

“Artificial intelligence can help us develop and engineer more effective energy systems. Manchester Prize funding is a chance for our country’s innovators to help make Britain more energy secure, protect households, bring skilled jobs and tackle the climate crisis.”

The Manchester Prize will award the most innovative and impactful AI solution enabling the UK to accelerate progress towards a net zero energy system. In spring 2025, up to 10 of the most promising solutions will each be supported with £100,000 in seed funding and additional non-financial support to develop products or services capable of winning the £1 million grand prize in spring 2026.

Solutions should demonstrate use of AI that accelerates the UK’s adoption of clean energy technologies at scale; enable efficient or low-cost operations of clean energy systems; and/or significantly reduce energy demand or optimise energy usage.

The Manchester Prize is encouraging teams of innovators, academics, scientists, engineers, startups and entrepreneurs to submit their solutions. Entries to the Manchester Prize must be UK-led, however the teams can include innovators and partners from around the world.

To find out more about the Manchester Prize and to enter before 1200 GMT on 17 January 2025, visit manchesterprize.org.