Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy technology, today unveiled new research that highlights a powerful set of pressures pushing autonomous operations to the top of the energy and chemicals sector agenda.
The study of 400 senior energy and chemicals executives in 12 countries shows a sharp rise in urgency around autonomy. A third of executives (31.5%) say enhancing independence is a “critical” priority in the next five years, rising to 44% over ten years. Less than 5% globally view it as a low priority.
Leaders point to strong trade pressures. They warn that delaying adoption risks higher operating costs (59%), worsening talent shortages (52%), and decreased competitiveness (48%). However, adoption is not without obstacles. Key barriers include high upfront costs (34%), legacy systems (30%), regulatory resistance (27%), cybersecurity concerns (26%), and regulatory uncertainty (25%).
The Schneider Electric Global Autonomous Maturity Report shows that the sector is at a critical turning point as electrification, automation and digitalization converge. The growing demand for artificial intelligence, driven mostly by the growth of clouds and large-scale data centers, is putting unprecedented pressure on global energy systems. Electricity demand is expected to double to 1,000 TWh by 2030, increasing the need for flexible, efficient and flexible operations.
Within this emerging AI energy nexus, 49% of executives identified AI as the largest enabler of self-acceleration, followed by cybersecurity developments, 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 reach 80% by 2030,” said Gwenelle Avis Hewitt, Executive Vice President, Schneider Electric. “Autonomy is rapidly becoming the new operating model for industry. As artificial intelligence advances and energy systems come under increasing pressure, autonomous operations are proving essential for agility and competitiveness. This transformation is not about replacing people, it is about enabling them to focus on higher-value work, enhance safety, and upskill. And those who scale now will shape the next era of industrial performance.”
Industry analysts agree that the shift is further than expected. “The report finds that adoption of autonomy in this sector is more advanced than expected, with open, software-defined automation fundamentally driving 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 agile and competitive operations.”
The momentum is clear, but progress is uneven, with data highlighting regional differences in preparedness levels. While the GCC and Asia currently lead in terms of maturity, North America is poised for the fastest acceleration in adoption of these technologies over the next five years, supported by the scale of its energy production and consumption, and the rapid expansion of data centers. Europe maintains steady progress but faces the slowest path to adoption.
“Autonomous operations are redefining how energy and chemical companies manage their entire facilities, and Schneider Electric and Aviva are at the forefront of this transformation, supporting customers such as Shell, European Energy, ADNOC and Bausteel in real-world deployments,” said Devan Pillai, Head of Heavy Industrial at Schneider. “By integrating Schneider Electric’s process control and energy management with AVEVA’s digital technologies and artificial intelligence, we deliver software-defined integrated architectures that provide real-time visibility and enable AI-powered digital twins that can predict, adapt and self-optimize with minimal intervention.”
Recent deployments demonstrate this shift. At Shell’s Scotford refinery in Canada, Schneider Electric is helping modernize processes through open, software-defined automation, supporting more flexible and autonomous operations. At European Energy’s Kassø Power-to-X facility, the world’s first commercially viable e-methanol plant, Schneider Electric and AVEVA are working together to enable AI-powered, self-optimizing clean fuel operations with flexible remote monitoring.
This research was conducted in partnership with Censuswide and Development Economics, supported by the insights of independent energy market analyst, Gaurav Sharma. It captures the insights of 400 senior energy executives in 12 countries across four key regions – North America, Europe, Asia and the GCC – supported by desk research and conversations with industry stakeholders and commentators across the global energy and chemicals sector.
Source: Schneider Electric
