Cracking the code of creativity: inside E.ON’s AI hackathon

Tech industry heavyweights including Microsoft, Snowflake, Infosys, and Asana were on hand at E.ON UK's HQ, offering technical expertise and guidance throughout the latest AI hackathon.

A hackathon (for the uninitiated) is an event where people engage in rapid and collaborative engineering over a relatively short period of time. Hosted by E.ON’s UK AI Taskforce, led by Claire Whitmore, the event challenged participants to solve real-world business problems using artificial intelligence – all while fostering creativity, collaboration, and community.

The Microsoft team's involvement was particularly noteworthy, with their team flying in specifically to be part of the Coventry event which aimed to tackle some of the energy sector’s most pressing challenges.

Day 1: big names, big ideas

Divided into 10 groups, each team arrived with a unique challenge to explore, from enhancing cyber security processes to improving energy demand forecasting.

The ultimate goal? To prove their ideas’ potential and pitch them at E.ON’s ‘AI Forum’ — a Dragons’ Den-style initiative where successful concepts can secure funding and ultimately find themselves implemented across the business.

The focus quickly shifted from brainstorming to hands-on development, as whiteboards filled up, laptops buzzed with activity, and innovative ideas began taking shape. By the end of the first day, participants gathered for tech partner presentations and informal discussions over pizza, re-energising for the challenges ahead.

Day 2: pitching to the pros and inspiring the next generation

Day two began with a new wave of excitement as 11 students from WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Coventry joined the event. Their involvement, made possible through our ongoing partnership with Coventry City, brought fresh perspectives and showcased the enthusiasm of future innovators. It’s a perfect example of how we’re working locally to inspire and develop the next generation of engineering and digital tech talent while fostering creativity and collaboration.

As the teams refined their concepts and rehearsed their pitches, the pressure was on. By the afternoon, each group was ready to present their solutions to our distinguished judging panel, including E.ON UK CEO Chris Norbury, Chief People Officer Helen Bradbury, and Ramona Vlasiu, COO of E.ON Next. Each team had just five minutes to impress, showcasing how their ideas could transform the business — whether by using AI with Google Images to assess the feasibility of air source heat pumps without stepping on-site or developing smart strategies to navigate the data deluge from the Government’s Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement, paving the way for a smarter, more dynamic energy future.

Celebrating innovation

The event wrapped up with three award categories: The E.ON AI Playmaker, for the team that truly captured E.ON’s innovative vibe; It’s on Us, for ideas that drive growth and sustainability; and Making New Energy Work, celebrating the team that went above and beyond to tackle big energy challenges. 

The winning ideas showed just how game-changing AI can be — from automating assessments to see if air source heat pumps could work for properties, to using AI agents (smart systems that can handle tasks all on their own) to make operations slicker and more efficient.

The hackathon not only showcased the talent and creativity available but also highlighted a commitment to leveraging AI to address the challenges of a rapidly evolving energy landscape. With big names in attendance, promising outputs, and inspiring contributions from future engineers, the event underscored our position as a leader in innovation.