The past year has been a pivotal period for industrial transformation. We have seen advancements in energy efficiency and software automation. With a growing emphasis on decarbonization and the adoption of renewable energy sources, let’s talk about five significant highlights from this year: 

  • Energy investment
  • Nuclear energy
  • Environmental health and safety
  • Supply chain modernization
  • The digital transformation journey 

As we look toward 2025, these developments will continue to keep us moving towards a more sustainable and resilient future. 

Energy Investment Transformation 

Global energy sector investment is reaching historic levels, with the International Energy Association (IEA) projecting total investment to exceed $3 trillion in 2024, of which approximately $2 trillion targets clean energy technologies. This investment spans fossil fuels, renewable power, grid infrastructure, energy storage, nuclear power, and low-emissions fuels. Converging factors drive the surge: 

  • Emerging market demands
  • Corporate sustainability commitments
  • Climate targets
  • Electrification needs
  • Growing power requirements from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure development 

In fact, Meta recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) for nuclear power development to support its AI efforts. 

Grid infrastructure investment has become increasingly critical as power delivery, rather than generation capacity, emerges as the primary challenge for resiliency. In the United States, transmission system investment has nearly tripled over two decades, reaching $27.7 billion in 2023, according to the EIA. This focus on grid modernization reflects a broader understanding that reliable power distribution is fundamental to energy security. 

Energy storage technology, particularly battery systems, has become a crucial complement to grid infrastructure. Between 2015 and 2024, batteries accounted for 90% of new energy storage deployments, according to the World Economic Forum. This expansion in storage capacity enables more effective integration of renewable energy sources by providing essential supply-demand balancing capabilities. 

Beyond physical infrastructure, significant investment is flowing into digital technologies that enhance system operations and performance. Advanced automation systems, artificial intelligence applications, and smart sensor networks – including smart meters – are being deployed to improve reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness across the energy sector. 

Nuclear Energy Advancements 

Nuclear energy, representing 9% of global electricity generation, is experiencing significant renewed momentum. Following the 2023 COP28 Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, signed by over 20 countries across four continents, global investment in nuclear power is projected to reach $80 billion in 2024 – nearly double the levels seen in 2018. 

This investment surge encompasses both traditional nuclear facilities and advanced nuclear technologies. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have emerged as a compelling investment opportunity, offering key advantages: reduced initial capital requirements, accelerated construction timelines, and greater flexibility in siting and scalability. Whether traditional reactors or SMRs, nuclear power’s synergy with renewables has become crucial for grid stability. As the grid integration of variable renewable energy sources expands, nuclear’s reliable baseload generation grows increasingly valuable. This complementary relationship drives investment strategies that position both technologies as essential components of a resilient, low-carbon grid. 

The nuclear sector’s digital transformation is equally significant. Advanced data analytics and management systems are becoming crucial for operational optimization and regulatory compliance. These platforms process vast amounts of sensor data to improve plant monitoring, predict maintenance needs, and ensure safety protocols. Integrating AI-driven analytics with traditional nuclear instrumentation and control systems enables more sophisticated approaches to plant operations and asset management. 

Finally, nuclear fusion research advances through combined private and government funding initiatives. While fusion technology remains a longer-term prospect, its potential for abundant clean energy production secures its place in future energy planning. 

Environmental, Health, and Safety Innovation 

The global push toward Net Zero by 2050 has intensified the focus on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) performance measurement and improvement. Lord Kelvin famously noted, “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.” This principle drives significant investment in advanced monitoring technologies and data analytics across industrial sectors. 

Environmental compliance and sustainability initiatives are spurring innovation in emissions monitoring technology. Organizations deploy sophisticated sensor networks and real-time analytics platforms to provide accurate emissions data. This infrastructure investment extends beyond regulatory compliance, enabling organizations to proactively manage their environmental impact and validate progress toward sustainability goals. 

The scope of emissions monitoring continues to expand. According to KPMG’s 2024 Supply Chain Trends report, while businesses have historically focused on Scope 1 (direct emissions) and Scope 2 (purchased electricity) data, attention has shifted decisively toward Scope 3 emissions—those incurred throughout the entire value chain. This broader view requires more sophisticated monitoring and analytics capabilities across supply networks. 

Alongside environmental monitoring, workplace safety technology is experiencing parallel advancement, with substantial investment in automation systems for hazardous operations and smart personal protective equipment (PPE). Connected worker solutions, including wearable devices and real-time monitoring systems, transform safety management while improving operational efficiency. This digital transformation of safety processes generates unprecedented visibility into workplace conditions and enables predictive risk management. 

For insights into emerging EHS trends and technologies, see EHS Daily Advisor’s report “Navigating Safety: EHS Challenges in 2024 and Beyond.” 

Supply Chain Evolution 

Global supply chain strategies are fundamentally transformed by lessons from recent disruptions and energy transition demands. While COVID-19 accelerated the trend toward supplier diversification, the energy sector’s rapid growth is now spurring additional structural changes in supply chain management. 

The shift toward localized supply chains is gaining momentum across sectors. This transition aims to enhance resilience and reduce dependency on extended supply networks. However, complete localization faces practical constraints in specialized industries that rely on geographically concentrated resources and expertise. These industries include advanced manufacturing processes and rare earth element production. 

Digital technologies are revolutionizing supply chain visibility and control. Blockchain implementations are improving material traceability and verification, while artificial intelligence systems enhance demand forecasting and inventory optimization. These technologies are crucial for critical components in energy infrastructure, where authentication and quality assurance are required. Integrating these digital tools enables more sophisticated approaches to regulatory compliance and ethical sourcing practices. 

According to Gartner’s analysis of supply chain trends, organizations are increasingly adopting hybrid approaches that balance the benefits of localization with the need for specialized global sourcing. This strategic flexibility helps companies maintain competitive advantages while building greater resilience against potential disruptions. 

Digital Transformation Acceleration 

The energy and industrial sectors are experiencing an unprecedented digital transformation driven by demands for operational resilience and efficiency gains. Investment in digital technologies is reshaping how assets are monitored, maintained, and optimized across the industrial landscape. 

Advanced monitoring systems, combining Internet of Things (IoT) sensors with edge computing capabilities, are becoming standard infrastructure across power generation, chemical processing, and utility operations. These systems enable real-time performance monitoring and predictive maintenance strategies that significantly reduce unplanned downtime. For example, utility providers implement sophisticated sensor networks for grid health monitoring, while process industries deploy advanced analytics for equipment reliability prediction. 

Digital twin technology has emerged as a cornerstone of industrial digitalization strategies. These virtual representations of physical assets provide insight into operational performance and potential failure modes. According to McKinsey’s Technology Trends Outlook 2024, organizations implementing digital twins are seeing asset reliability and maintenance efficiency improvements. The technology enables the simulation of various operational scenarios, allowing companies to optimize performance parameters and predict maintenance needs before failures occur. 

Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications extend these capabilities further, enabling autonomous operation optimization and advanced pattern recognition for anomaly detection. Integrating AI with traditional industrial control systems represents a significant shift toward more intelligent and adaptive operations. 

Looking Ahead to 2025 

Several critical trends emerge as we examine the transformation across energy and industrial sectors in 2024. Record-setting investment in clean energy technologies, grid modernization, and nuclear power development signals a fundamental shift in how we approach energy infrastructure. Integrating these technologies, supported by advanced digital systems and robust supply chains, creates more resilient and sustainable industrial operations. 

This transformation extends beyond physical infrastructure. Enhanced environmental monitoring capabilities, sophisticated safety systems, and digitalized supply chains enable organizations to manage risk better while improving operational efficiency. The convergence of these developments—from advanced nuclear technologies to artificial intelligence applications—establishes new standards for industrial performance and sustainability. 

The path forward requires a continued commitment to innovation and investment across all sectors. As organizations balance the demands of decarbonization with operational reliability, the role of intelligent automation and data-driven decision-making becomes increasingly central. Success will depend on effectively integrating these technological advances while focusing on safety, sustainability, and operational excellence. 

Stay tuned for exciting software developments and partnerships ahead of HanAra next year. We are excited to ring in the new year together with you all as we continue to strive for improved operations. HanAra hopes you all have happy holidays and a wonderful wintertime with your family at home and the office. Let’s break through our limitations together!Â