Round Two: Clean Energy Systems

This prize is open for entries until 12pm on 17th January 2025

The second Manchester Prize is a multi-million-pound launchpad for innovators with bold AI solutions for a clean energy economy. The Prize will be awarded to the most innovative and impactful AI solution enabling the UK to accelerate progress towards a net zero energy system. We are seeking ideas from innovators across the country to enter the Prize.

Innovators applying for the second Manchester Prize are invited to respond to this year’s Challenge Statement:

Challenge Statement

The second Manchester Prize will be awarded to the most innovative and impactful AI solution enabling the UK to accelerate progress towards a net zero energy system.

Solutions should demonstrate use of AI that delivers on at least one of the following:

accelerates the UK’s adoption of clean energy technologies at scale,
enables efficient or low-cost operations of clean energy systems,
significantly reduces energy demand, or optimises energy usage.

The winning solution will demonstrate not only technical innovation but also an evidenced road map to near-term (2030) adoption and scale.

Up to 10 of the most promising solutions will each be supported with £100,000 in seed funding and additional non-financial support to develop solutions capable of winning the £1 million grand prize in spring 2026.

All the information you need is included in the menu below – the information is also included here in the Innovator Handbook. Please read all of these details before you apply for the prize. If you still have queries, contact the team at info@manchesterprize.org