The UK government has announced nearly GBP 4 million ($5.1 million) in funding for “green AI (artificial intelligence) innovations” in a new release sent to Rigzone.
Twelve green AI initiatives will receive a share of GBP 1 million ($1.2 million) to decarbonise and boost renewable energy generation, helping to achieve the country’s ambitious net zero goal by 2050, indicate the government in the statement.
In addition, the government revealed in the statement that it will contribute GBP 2.25 million ($2.87 million) to support new innovations in AI, “with the aim of reducing emissions specifically in the energy sectors”.
The government also said in the statement that its Digital Catapult agency, which is part of Innovate UK and supports businesses in progressing their ideas, has received up to GBP 500,000 ($638,277) to launch the first UK Center of Excellence on AI Innovation for Decarbonisation (COUNSELL).
ADViCE will provide a virtual hub that will bring together companies, academics and experts to advance research into AI solutions that help industries reduce emissions, according to the government statement.
“We are undisputed world leaders in advanced AI and our decarbonisation record,” UK Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Minister Lord Callanan said in a government statement.
“This unique position means we must now push the boundaries of how this technology can improve our fast-growing clean energy sector,” Callanan added.
“It’s projects like the ones announced today that will take us to the next step in our ambitious journey to become Net Zero, while improving our energy security and creating a new wave of skilled jobs for the future,” he said. continued the minister.
The UK’s Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Viscount Camrose, said: “AI is driving transformative change in the UK.”
“These winning projects are yet another example of how we are leveraging our world-class research base and in-house expertise to address one of the most pressing global challenges of our time,” added Camrose.
“Whether it’s supporting projects that help us reduce emissions or supporting research to revolutionize healthcare for patients, we’re harnessing the enormous potential of AI technologies to improve people’s lives.” Camrose said.
Digital Catapult CEO Jeremy Silver said “the ADViCE program will drive the integral role of AI in solving critical decarbonisation challenges”.
“The program’s partners are at the heart of the UK’s dynamic AI ecosystem and are perfectly placed to forge collaborations between the technology community and some of our most carbon-intensive sectors,” he added.
“Smart use of AI and data will be critical to meeting the UK’s net zero commitment. ADViCE will support those who build algorithms and those who invest in AI solutions in the most impactful way possible.” it continued.
AI projects
In the statement, the UK government highlighted some of the developers who will receive part of the £1 million funding.
These include Secqai Ltd. in London, which the government revealed will get GBP 100,000 ($127,601) “to support the development of new low-power AI technology, which mirrors the neural structure of the human brain.”
This new system will consume a fraction of the power of traditional AI hardware, helping to reduce its carbon footprint, the government said in the statement.
London-based Open Climate Fix Ltd will receive GBP 121,500 ($155,035) to develop artificial intelligence that will support connecting solar electricity to the energy grid, according to the statement, which said the technology will use weather and satellite data to forecast the amount. the solar energy that is transferred to the grid.
This will reduce grid congestion and maximize the amount of renewable energy transmitted, according to the statement.
GBP 133,932 ($170,898) will also support a solar energy project led by the University of Nottingham, the statement revealed, adding that in this project, AI will improve forecasting of solar energy production by sky images and weather data.
Renewables, Oil and Gas
Earlier this month, UK Energy Security Secretary Grant Schapps announced a £22m ($28.07m) increase in government support for renewable energy through the Contracts scheme for Difference. The increase brings the total budget to GBP 227 million ($289.65 million) for this auction, the announcement noted.
“Today’s funding through our flagship Contracts for Difference programme, the lifeblood of our renewables industry for nearly a decade, will help grow our economy by making Britain the first choice for project investors of renewable energy and secure skilled jobs for future generations,” said Schapps. in the ad.
“This will be the case for established technologies such as solar and new innovations such as floating offshore wind and, together with our support for oil and gas, carbon capture and our renaissance of nuclear, will ensure that we can help feed more Britain from Britain for decades to come,” he added.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed on July 31 that hundreds of new oil and gas licenses will be granted in the UK, a British government statement on the same day revealed.
The statement highlighted that the UK government continues to support the North Sea oil and gas industry as part of its drive to make the UK more energy independent.
“Now more than ever, it is vital that we strengthen our energy security and use this independence to deliver more affordable and cleaner energy to British homes and businesses,” Sunak said in the statement.
“Even when we reach net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas. But there are those who would rather it come from hostile states than from the supplies we have here at home,” he added .
“We are choosing to power the UK from the UK and invest in crucial industries such as carbon capture and storage, rather than relying on more carbon-intensive gas imports from abroad, which will support thousands of skilled jobs, will unlock more opportunities for green technologies and grow the economy,” he continued.
To contact the author, please send an email andreas.exarcheas@rigzone.com
