Interested in the Energy Sector and AI? You’re welcome to join us for our Hackathon!
Energy Systems Catapult and Diverse AI are partnering to deliver an inclusive, one-day hackathon exploring how artificial intelligence can help make the UK’s energy transition more equitable.
As the UK shifts to renewable energy sources like wind and solar which generate power intermittently, the grid increasingly needs households and businesses to be flexible about when they use energy, not just how much. This "energy flexibility" means adjusting energy consumption to match when clean, affordable power is abundant (such as charging an electric vehicle overnight, or pre-heating a home during windy periods when electricity is cheap and low-carbon). However, accessing these benefits often requires technology like smart meters, heat pumps, or EV, and the digital literacy to use them, putting lower-income and marginalised communities at risk of being left behind.
Under the theme “Flex for All”, participants will tackle real-world challenges from an ongoing programme by Energy Systems Catapult and Digital Catapult which aims to unlock new markets and innovation opportunities for energy flexibility across the UK. Teams will explore how AI can help ensure everyone can participate in and benefit from a smarter, more flexible energy system — regardless of income, housing type, language, or technical experience.
The hackathon invites participants from all backgrounds and skill levels to design data-driven solutions that ensures no one is left behind in the shift to a smarter, more flexible energy system. Teams will use open-source datasets on household energy use, income, housing, and geography to uncover where communities may be excluded from flexibility initiatives — for example, due to cost, housing type, awareness, or access to low-carbon technologies like heat pumps or electric vehicles.
By combining creativity, AI tools, and inclusive design, participants will prototype solutions — from simple dashboards to AI-powered advisors — that reveal where exclusion risks are highest, why they occur, and how technology, policy, or business innovation could close the gap.
The event aims to empower new voices in energy and AI, foster collaboration between diverse talent and sector experts, and spark ideas that shape a fair, data-driven path to cleaner and more affordable energy.
This promises to be a great event with cash prizes!
This event is kindly sponsored by Energy Systems Catapult.
