Energy security and AI
This POSTnote summarises the current and emerging applications of AI and ML in the energy system, barriers to wider implementation, the challenges likely to be encountered, and policy considerations proposed by sector stakeholders.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PN735
Global intergovernmental organisations suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) could play a significant role in addressing energy system limitations and the transition to Net Zero. It has the potential to leverage big data from devices such as smart meters and other technologies to optimise energy planning, generation, storage and use.
According to academia and industry, as the grid becomes more distributed, the impact of AI in the energy system will depend on creating a supportive environment for innovation while taking steps to mitigate the challenges posed.
AI is a tool for optimising the energy system and is not the driver of these changes. Predictive AI, used to forecast patterns and identify future trends based on existing data, will provide key benefits to the energy system. However, stakeholders outline that there are still uncertainties around the use of AI. They also raise concerns around privacy and cyber security; fairness and ethical use; and operational challenges of using AI in Critical National Infrastructure.
Key points
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have a range of current and emerging applications within the energy sector, with the potential to optimise and accelerate energy planning, generation, and use.
- AI could use data from devices such as smart meters and substation monitoring to help address current regional renewable connection delays and excessive network congestion. It could also speed-up decarbonisation of the energy system as the UK strives to meet 2030 grid decarbonisation, 2050 Net Zero targets and reduce costs for consumers.
- There are technical and infrastructural barriers to wider adoption of AI in the energy system, including data access, regulation, skills gaps, and availability and reliability of the physical infrastructure that supports AI.
- Stakeholders have raised concerns around privacy, cyber security, energy use, fairness, ethical use, and operational challenges.
- Stakeholders suggest that more support is needed to develop AI in the sector, and that regulation needs to change to ensure optimal benefits can be gained from wider integration of AI in the energy system, while avoiding potential risks.
POSTnotes are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer reviewed. POST would like to thank interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:
Members of the POST board*
Dr Shahid Awan, University of West Scotland
Jamie Berryhill, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)*
Zachary Egan, International Energy Agency (IEA)*
Dr Ferheen Ayaz, City St. George’s, University of London
Dr Indrachapa Bandara, WMG University of Warwick
Edwin Brown, University of Sheffield
Prof. Alastair Buckley, University of Sheffield
Dr Stuart Bradley, WMG University of Warwick
Prof. Winston Chow, Singapore Management University
Dr Truong Dinh, WMG University of Warwick
Dr Cristina Dominguez, Sustainable Energy for All
Dr Mona Faraji Niri, WMG University of Warwick
Dr Johnathan Foster, University of Sheffield
Christian Graham, Friends of the Earth
Jed Griffiths, Microsoft
Guy Gueritz, NVIDIA
Dr Stephen Haben, Energy Systems Catapult
Calum Handforth, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change*
Bryan Hill, Microsoft
Johannes Kirnberger, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)*
Dr Karen Lai, Durham University
Tone Langengen, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change*
Dr Francesco Leofante, Imperial College London
Dr Felicia Liu, University of York
Valerie Livina, National Physical Laboratory
Sam Mathew, Microsoft
Dr Andrew McGordon, WMG University of Warwick
Prof. Richard McMahon, WMG University of Warwick
Dr Althaff Mohideen, University of West Scotland
Edward Mulholland, Scottish Power Energy Networks
Dr Mustafa Mustafa, University of Manchester
NESO
Dr Nishant Narayan, Sustainable Energy for All
Dr Panagiotis Papadopoulos, University of Manchester
Prof. Evangelos Pournaras, University of Leeds
Dr Robin Preece, University of Manchester
Declan Stock, Ofgem
Ava Strasser, Sustainable Energy for All
Dr Kimberly Tam, University of Plymouth
Jamie Taylor, University of Sheffield / National Energy System Operator
Jonathan Thurlwell, Ofgem
Charles Wood, Energy UK
Samuel Young, Energy Systems Catapult
Prof. Muhammad Zeeshan Shakir, University of West Scotland
* Denotes people who acted as external reviewers of this briefing