The UK Government has set out its vision for the use of artificial intelligence across the UK's energy system, publishing a new policy framework alongside an independent review that calls for widespread adoption of AI in electricity networks over the next decade.
The two publications,
The Grid We Need Now, an independent review led by Lucy Yu, and the Government's Vision for an AI-enabled clean energy system, are expected to shape the UK's first AI for Clean Energy Strategy, due later this year. Together, they outline how AI could improve the planning, operation and management of the country's energy infrastructure while supporting decarbonisation, energy security and lower costs for consumers.
Commissioned by Government in December 2025, Yu's review examined how AI could be deployed more effectively across electricity networks. It concludes that AI has the potential to transform grid operations, improve the utilisation of existing infrastructure and accelerate the transition to a cleaner and more flexible energy system.
The review focuses on four key areas: updating grid operating rules to take greater advantage of AI-driven decision-making, ensuring consumers benefit from AI deployment, preparing networks for increasing levels of automation, and reducing barriers to the testing and adoption of new technologies.
Among its recommendations is a proposal for the UK to move towards fully probabilistic, risk-based grid operations by 2035, with similar approaches adopted for network planning by 2036. The report also calls on the
National Energy System Operator (NESO) and network operators to develop probabilistic risk modelling capabilities by 2030.
Other recommendations include the creation of shared testing capabilities for advanced and increasingly autonomous AI systems, reforms to cost recovery mechanisms as AI-based optimisation becomes more common, and the development of a clear framework for defining and managing autonomy within electricity networks by the first half of 2027.
The review also urges
Ofgem to strengthen incentives for digitalisation and AI investment, while promoting greater data standardisation and interoperability across the sector to support faster deployment.
Alongside the review, the Government's vision document identifies several priority applications for AI, including system optimisation, asset management, maintenance planning, demand-side energy management and research and development activities.
The vision outlines three guiding principles for deployment: reducing energy costs for households and businesses, improving system efficiency while supporting decarbonisation, and strengthening energy security.
It also highlights several barriers to adoption, including access to data, market incentives, regulatory frameworks, cyber security concerns, systems integration challenges and shortages of digital skills.
Looking further ahead, the document envisages an increasingly autonomous energy system featuring distributed decision-making, continuous optimisation and embedded control systems. However, it acknowledges that issues such as accountability, fairness, liability and the potential erosion of human expertise will need to be addressed as AI adoption increases.
The Government has also launched a call for evidence as part of the initiative, with responses invited until 6 November. The findings will inform the forthcoming AI for Clean Energy Strategy, which will set out potential changes to regulation, funding and policy designed to accelerate the deployment of AI across the UK's energy sector.