:

NATIONAL GRID INVESTS $1.75B IN US AI POWER FIRM

AI DESK2 MIN READ
WED, JUL 1, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

National Grid is committing $1.75 billion to Jouleant, a US-based artificial intelligence power company, as electricity demand from AI operations accelerates globally.

National Grid CEO Zoë Yujnovich announced the strategic investment during an appearance on Bloomberg Open Interest, underscoring the utility's pivot toward meeting surging energy demands driven by data centers and AI infrastructure. The investment reflects a broader industry shift as artificial intelligence workloads consume unprecedented amounts of electricity. Data centers powering large language models and machine learning systems require continuous, reliable power supplies—a challenge traditional grid operators are scrambling to address. Jouleant specializes in AI-optimized power solutions designed to manage the unique energy consumption patterns of computational systems. The firm's technology aims to improve efficiency and grid stability as demand from AI-driven applications continues climbing. Yujnovich emphasized that AI electricity demand represents a critical growth area for National Grid's future business. The investment signals the company's commitment to positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider for the emerging AI economy rather than risking obsolescence as energy consumption patterns shift. The $1.75 billion commitment also reflects confidence in the US market for AI-related infrastructure development. As major tech companies race to build and expand data centers, utility companies are recognizing the need to develop specialized grid capabilities. National Grid operates one of the world's largest energy networks, serving millions of customers across the US and UK. The Jouleant investment represents one of its largest bets on emerging technology infrastructure, signaling how seriously legacy utilities are taking the AI energy challenge. This move joins other major announcements from utilities and energy companies seeking to capitalize on AI-driven power growth. Microsoft, Google, and other tech giants have also announced massive data center expansion plans, creating urgent demand for grid modernization and capacity increases.

■ SOURCES

Bloomberg Tech

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE BUSINESS DESK

Chinese food delivery giant Meituan reported Q2 revenue of 105 billion yuan ($15.62B), up 14.4% year-over-year, and posted an adjusted net profit of $372M, ending three consecutive quarters of losses.

JUST NOWIndustry Desk

Prediction market platform Kalshi partnered with Weather Co. to verify climate and weather prediction settlements. The company projects weather trading volume will reach $1.1 billion by 2026.

1H AGOIndustry Desk

Texas lawmakers added $1 to car insurance policies to fund Flock surveillance cameras. The money supports automated license plate readers installed across the state.

1H AGOAI Desk

The UK government has dismissed Green party leader Zack Polanski's proposal for a moratorium on large-scale AI datacentre construction, citing economic concerns over the energy and water-intensive projects.

6H AGOAI Desk

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

ONE EMAIL, 5 STORIES, 06:00 UTC. UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME.