Two-Thirds of UK Support Clean Energy Superpower Mission, Manchester Prize Reveals

Key Takeaways

64% of people in the UK support the country becoming a clean energy superpower, with 65% wanting to export clean energy.
A significant portion of the populace, 39%, believes the UK should lead in green technology development over the next five years.
The Manchester Prize aims to fund innovative AI solutions that support the UK’s clean energy goals, with a £1 million grand prize available in 2026.

Public Support for Clean Energy Transition

A recent survey conducted by Opinium for the Manchester Prize highlights strong public backing for the UK to become a clean energy superpower. The survey revealed that 64% of respondents want the UK to enhance its clean energy capabilities, and 65% envision the country exporting this energy to others. Additionally, 34% of the participants expressed a desire for the UK to assume a leadership role in facilitating global net-zero initiatives.

In light of these findings, Feryal Clark MP, Minister for A.I., stated that the UK government is committed to making the country a leader in clean energy. The government aims to secure home-grown energy resources and drive progress toward achieving clean power by 2030 as part of its Plan for Change. Clark emphasized that comprehensive strategies, including the Manchester Prize, will be deployed to realize this vision.

Focus on Artificial Intelligence in Clean Energy

The Manchester Prize, initiated by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, seeks to reward UK-led advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) that can significantly contribute to clean energy and net-zero objectives. In its second year, the prize is designed to foster innovations that can have a tangible public impact.

According to the survey results, 42% of respondents believe that countries adopting AI technologies today will be more successful in the future. Almost half of the participants (47%) advocated for the UK to bolster investments in advancing its own AI technologies. Over a third of respondents hope to see AI innovations that lower renewable energy production costs (36%), decrease reliance on imported energy (36%), and enhance home energy efficiency (33%).

Professor Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, highlighted the government’s recent Clean Power Action Plan, which marks a pivotal step toward achieving clean electricity. Monks underscored the role of AI in creating more efficient energy systems and noted that the Manchester Prize represents an opportunity for innovators to contribute to energy security while addressing climate change.

Manchester Prize Funding and Future Innovations

The Manchester Prize will allocate substantial funding to the most promising AI solutions that can help the UK meet its net-zero energy system targets. In spring 2025, up to 10 innovative proposals will receive £100,000 each in seed funding, along with additional support to develop effective products or services. These projects will then compete for a grand prize of £1 million in spring 2026.

Eligible solutions must showcase how AI can facilitate large-scale adoption of clean energy technologies, improve the efficiency or reduce costs associated with clean energy operations, or significantly optimize energy usage. The prize encourages collaboration, inviting UK-led teams of innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs to present their ideas, with the possibility of including international partners in their efforts.

By harnessing the power of AI, the Manchester Prize aims to accelerate the UK’s transition to a sustainable energy future, aligning with the nation’s broader clean energy ambitions.

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