The UK government is looking to update its energy grid in a bid to support its AI ambitions, as AI and energy ministers met to discuss accelerating energy grid connections and infrastructure build.

Joined by regulators and representatives from the energy and tech sectors, AI minister Kanishka Narayan and energy ministers Lord Vallance and Michael Shanks discussed progress on government action to accelerate connections for AI data centres.

This includes steps to reduce potential pressures on the energy network by supporting data centres based in AI Growth Zones with significant discounts on their electricity bills in instances where they will be able to harness excess capacity.

The AI Minister reflected on how AI has become a key driver of the government’s missions on growth and prosperity, noting the recent announcements of new AI Growth Zones for North East England, and North and South Wales.

Discussions also covered the recently-announced package of reforms to support the delivery of AI Growth Zones, particularly highlighting how AI Growth Zone infrastructure projects will benefit from plans to accelerate grid access.

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The discussions come at a tumultuous time for data centres and AI ambition, as London Assembly’s Planning and Regeneration Committee issued a warning that data centre plans in the region could delay housing expansion due to increasing energy demand.

“AI Growth Zones are about creating jobs and unlocking long-term investment for every single community, right across the UK. We’ve already taken bold steps to reform the grid and now we’re making sure those changes deliver results,” said Narayan ahead of the Council meeting.

“By teaming up with tech companies, energy providers and regulators, we’re freeing grid capacity for the projects that matter most.

“Businesses now have even greater confidence to invest, local economies an even greater boost, and our public services an even greater chance to use AI to serve our communities.”