Global study shows energy industry ramping up investment in autonomous operations by 2030 as AI reshapes performance in General Energy News 02/04/2026 Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, has unveiled new research highlighting a powerful combination of pressures pushing autonomous operations to the top of the agenda for the energies and chemicals sector. The study of 400 senior energy and chemicals executives across 12 countries shows a sharp rise in urgency around autonomy. A third of executives (31.5%) say advancing autonomy is a ‘critical’ priority in the next five years, rising to 44% over a ten-year horizon. Fewer than 5% globally view it as a low priority. Leaders cite strong commercial pressures. They warn that delaying adoption risks higher operating costs (59%), worsening talent shortages (52%), and declining competitiveness (48%). Yet adoption is not without obstacles. Key barriers include high upfront costs (34%), legacy systems (30%), organizational resistance (27%), cybersecurity concerns (26%), and regulatory uncertainty (25%). Schneider Electric’s Global Autonomous Maturity Report shows the sector at a critical point of transformation as electrification, automation, and digitalization converge. Surging AI demand, driven predominantly by hyperscale cloud and data ‑center growth, is placing unprecedented pressure on global energy systems. Electricity demand is projected to nearly double to 1,000 TWh by 2030, intensifying the need for flexible, efficient, and resilient operations. Within this emerging AI energy nexus, 49% of executives identify AI as the single biggest enabler of autonomous acceleration, followed by cybersecurity advancements, cloud and edge computing, digital twins, advanced process control, and open, software-defined automation. “Globally, organizations already report operating at 70% autonomy, with plans to hit 80% by 2030,” said Gwenaelle Avice Huet, Executive Vice President, Schneider Electric. “Autonomy is rapidly becoming the new operating model of industry. As AI advances and energy systems come under growing pressure, autonomous operations are proving essential for resilience and competitiveness. And this shift isn’t about replacing people, it’s about empowering them to focus on higher value work, strengthening safety, and elevating skills. Those who scale now will shape the next era of industrial performance.” Industry analysts agree the shift is further along than expected. “The report finds the adoption of autonomy in the sector to be more advanced than expected, with open, software-defined automation essentially leading the next phase of energy innovation”, added Gaurav Sharma, Independent Energy Market Analyst and contributor to the research. “In a sector where reliability, safety, and carbon reduction are now non‑negotiable, these technologies are emerging as the most effective way for operators to deliver ‘more with less’ and run more resilient and competitive operations.” The momentum is clear, but progress remains uneven, with the data highlighting regional differences in readiness levels. The GCC countries and Asia currently lead in maturity and adoption. According to The World Bank Gulf Economic Update released in December 2025, GCC countries today, without exception, have advanced diversification and accelerated digital transformation to ensure resilience, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia emerging as regional and global leaders in AI adoption, supported by data centers, AI