Automation: the true enabler of energy expansion Automation ensures critical operations run safely and reliably, integrates renewables at scale, and makes industrial decarbonisation achievable
Per Erik Holsten ABB’s Energy Industries division
W hen we talk about energy expansion and the need to balance rising energy demand with decarbonisation efforts across the energy ecosystem, the conversation can sometimes become dominated by the most visible renewable technologies, such as offshore wind farms and solar panel installations. However, there is a true enabler that can go unnoticed. Automation – the control systems, digital tools, and engineering expertise that underpin industrial processes and vital infrastructure – is what makes everything work in practice. Automation is the brain of global industrial operations, ensuring that energy systems and heavy industries run efficiently, flexibly, and safely. Automation enables renewables to be integrated at scale. It supports the reduction of emissions in energy-intensive industries without impacting output. Additionally, it helps manage the balance of security, affordability, and
sustainability, addressing the so-called energy trilemma ( WEC, 2024 ). The bigger debate is sometimes dominated by how energy is produced, while automation, the technology that keeps these systems stable, efficient, and resilient, is sometimes under- reported. Efficiency and optimisation are not optional extras. They are the levers that make a low-carbon future achievable. Automation and digitalisation are the tools that allow today’s assets to outrun leaner and cleaner while preparing tomorrow’s technologies to scale (see Figure 1 ). Deliver more with less Global energy demand is rising, not falling ( IEA, 2025 ). By 2050, the world’s population will grow by nearly two billion people, much of it concentrated in regions where infrastructure is already under strain. At the same time, urbanisation is accelerating. By mid-century, almost 70% of the global
population will live in cities ( UN, 2025 ). That concentration magnifies demand, especially as electrification expands. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts electricity demand will grow by more than 60% by 2040 ( IEA, 2025b ). This is not just about adding more gigawatts. It is about building systems with the resilience and flexibility to handle fluctuating supply,
Figure 1 Automation ensures energy systems run efficiently and safely
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