Energy security and AI

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.

Acknowledgements

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