Google making deal to optimize UK energy grid with AI

Google's DeepMind unit is in talks with the UK's National Grid and other big electricity providers to see if machine learning technology can help to balance energy supply and demand, and reduce a country's energy usage without any new infrastructure.

Last July, the London-based DeepMind revealed its machine learning tools had cut the electricity consumption at Google's datacenters by a whopping 15 percent. Because it was such a big success, DeepMind wants to test what impact it can have a national grid of a country. In particular, the technology could help National Grid to maximize the use of renewable energy by using machine learning to better predict peaks in demand and supply.

In a comment to the Financial Times, Demis Hassabis, DeepMind’s chief executive, seems to suggest this sort of artificial intelligence could save 10 percent of a country's energy use just from optimization.

“There's huge potential for predictive machine learning technology to help energy systems reduce their environmental impact. One really interesting possibility is whether we could help the National Grid maximise the use of renewables through using machine learning to predict peaks in demand and supply,” DeepMind said, adding that it was in the process of exploring a “possible partnership”.

National Grid said: “We are in the very early stages of looking at the potential of working with DeepMind and exploring what opportunities they could offer for us.

“We are always excited to look at how the latest advances in technology can bring improvements in our performance, ensure we are making the best use of renewable energy, and help save money for bill payers.”