Study: Energy sector ramps up investment in digital twins, AI

(WO) — Energy and infrastructure companies are accelerating investment in digital twins and artificial intelligence as they seek to improve predictive maintenance, operational visibility and infrastructure resilience, according to new research commissioned by Bentley Systems. 

The study, conducted by research firm Verdantix, found that more than 70% of organizations plan to increase spending on digital twins over the next two years, while AI is increasingly being deployed to support asset inspections and failure prediction.

The survey of senior executives from energy, mining, transportation and water organizations found that disconnected data systems remain one of the biggest barriers to improving operational performance. More than two-thirds of respondents identified fragmented data and siloed digital platforms as their primary technical challenges, limiting their ability to generate predictive insights across interconnected assets.

According to the report, more than 80% of organizations have established or are developing infrastructure resilience strategies, but many continue to struggle with implementation because operational and engineering data remain disconnected.

The research also found that AI adoption is expanding rapidly across infrastructure operations. Half of respondents reported using AI to support inspections, while more than 40% have implemented AI-based failure prediction capabilities to help anticipate equipment issues before they occur.

"The research highlights a fundamental operational challenge," said Priyanka Bawa, principal analyst at Verdantix. "While most organizations have a resilience strategy in place, their digital systems are rarely integrated enough to execute it."

Bentley said open digital twins are emerging as a key technology for integrating engineering, operational and environmental data into a single platform, enabling operators to move from reactive maintenance toward predictive asset management and more informed operational decision-making.

"Open digital twins help address this challenge by bringing disparate data sources into a single, accessible environment," said Chris Bradshaw, Bentley's chief sustainability and education officer. "This integration enables engineering teams to move from reactive maintenance toward predictive insights and more proactive, long-term planning."

The findings reflect a broader shift across industrial sectors toward greater use of digital technologies to improve asset reliability, reduce downtime and support data-driven operations.