The climate and nature crisis is one of the greatest long-term challenges we face in the UK and around the world. We need an ambitious approach to using artificial intelligence across the development, engineering and operation of our energy system to meet this demand.
The second Manchester Prize is incentivising the development and deployment of AI in this space to support the UK in realising its mission to be a clean energy superpower.
In January 2025, the Manchester prize opened and received 118 inspiring entries, all working towards developing AI tools and solutions that would reduce carbon emissions by 2030 and into the future.
Following a rigorous assessment and judging process, the 10 entries were selected by our expert judging panel.
The large number of exciting, innovative, yet practical proposals made it difficult for us to pick the finalists, and we hope all these projects lead to breakthroughs in real-world uses of AI in the challenges faced in improving climate change.
Led by University of Sheffield and AMRC.
Led by University of Surrey.
Led by Carbon Re.
Led by Kale AI.
Led by Deep.Meta.
Led by Flexible Power Systems.
Led by Underheat, in partnership with University of Salford.
Led by University of Wolverhampton, in partnership with ABCircular GmbH.
Led by The University of Manchester.
Led by Kestrix.
Each finalist team is being supported with £100,000 in funding, up to £60,000 of compute and additional non-financial support to develop their solutions and put them in poll position to win £1 million in spring 2026.
![2025-05-29- Challenge Works Manchester Prize-16 [EDITED]](https://manchesterprize.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2025-05-29-Challenge-Works-Manchester-Prize-16-EDITED-1600x900.jpg?t=0&ratio=1.7777777777778)
![2025-05-29- Challenge Works Manchester Prize-10 [EDITED]](https://manchesterprize.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2025-05-29-Challenge-Works-Manchester-Prize-10-EDITED-1600x900.jpg?t=0&ratio=1.7777777777778)
![2025-05-29- Challenge Works Manchester Prize-27 [EDITED]](https://manchesterprize.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2025-05-29-Challenge-Works-Manchester-Prize-27-EDITED-1600x900.jpg?t=0&ratio=1.7777777777778)
![2025-05-29- Challenge Works Manchester Prize-31 [EDITED]](https://manchesterprize.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2025-05-29-Challenge-Works-Manchester-Prize-31-EDITED-1600x900.jpg?t=0&ratio=1.7777777777778)