Professor Xiaowei Zhao has been awarded a £415K grant titled “Supergen Network Plus in Artificial Intelligence for Renewable Energy (SuperAIRE)” from the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) call ‘Network Pluses in Energy to form next generation Supergen Hubs’. The Supergen programme was set up in 2001 to deliver sustained and coordinated research on SUstainable PowER GENeration and supply, focusing on key research areas.

SuperAIRE aims to establish a world-leading network connecting academia, industries, and policymakers across the spectrum of artificial intelligence (AI) for renewable energy. This includes generation, storage, transmission, distribution, and demand side management. It aims to create the conditions in which AI for renewable energy can be promoted faster than at present to boost the development and deployment of renewable energy.

SuperAIRE will incubate a Supergen AI + renewable energy research community seizing the opportunity to enhance the UK's role as a global leader in the intelligent and digital transformation of the renewable energy sector. It will not only exploit the transformative power of AI in different renewable energy subsectors but also address common challenges and optimise performance across the renewable energy ecosystem.

Furthermore, this grant comes after Prof. Zhao and his team AIOLUS makes one of ten finalists for the Manchester Prize, a prestigious challenge prize by the UK government rewarding breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good. This awarded Prof Zhao with a further £190,000 for his research in AI and renewable energy.

About SuperAIRE Professor Zhao said: “I am pleased to lead the SuperAIRE initiative, driving the integration of artificial intelligence with renewable energy, contributing to achieve the UK's net zero targets. By connecting academia, industry, and policymakers, SuperAIRE aims to enable smarter, more efficient, and more resilient solutions across the renewable energy ecosystem. Together, we will unlock new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and sustainability.”

This project represents a significant step toward a sustainable, low-carbon future, leveraging AI to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape. Congratulations Professor Xiaowei Zhao and his research team for this success!