This is particularly evident within the halls of government – with both major parties proposing their very different pathways in the lead-up to the next federal election.

While each side will present its case and stake its political future on their proposed solution, a crucial question remains: “Do we have the infrastructure to support this energy transition, regardless of whether we choose nuclear or renewables?”

With significant public and private capital expenditure on the line, the answer hinges on a very simple yet vital solution – digital infrastructure.

Reaching its full potential

With the advent of grid-interactive infrastructure, adoption of electric vehicles in public transport, and development of new solar farms, there is a clear shift occurring towards a more sustainable future.

However, while we focus on the end goals of these large-scale projects, we often overlook how to ensure these assets reach their full potential and avoid becoming infamous ‘white elephants’. This is where digital infrastructure plays a critical role in achieving sustainability goals.

Australia still has a long way to go in embracing digital infrastructures. The Australian Productivity Commission’s Advancing Prosperity report found that fewer than 2% of Australian businesses effectively harness data and leverage digital technology to achieve their business goals.

The report highlighted insufficient ICT knowledge and uncertainty around costs and benefits as key barriers to adoption. There is a clear skills and knowledge gap in utilising digital infrastructures, which threatens the success of our large-scale energy transition projects. Regardless of political positions, a bipartisan approach is essential to ensure Australia is adequately prepared to facilitate this transition and maximise our investments.

Advanced projects require advanced technology

Whether we forge down the path of nuclear or renewable energy, it’s clear that each option requires significant management and maintenance of highly complex assets that will need best-in-class maintenance.

Nuclear plants already go through rigorous testing and maintenance to ensure they are well-managed and maintained in the interest of public safety. In Australia, our high standards of regulation and governance ensure these structures, systems and components operate safely and efficiently.Renewable energy assets, such as solar panels and wind turbines, face their own challenges, such as being subject to extreme weather and environmental conditions. Additionally, many of these assets are located in remote areas, making access and maintenance difficult and costly.

Whichever path we take, we are embarking on a substantial investment in advanced assets that will shape our energy future. Given these assets are highly advanced, technical and are required to produce a significant amount of energy to support an increasingly intensive demand, shouldn’t we be thinking more about how we’re going to ‘keep the power on’? This is where technology – particularly the power of predictive maintenance - comes into play.

Better Maintenance, Better Outcomes

Better asset maintenance brings numerous advantages, particularly financial ones.

Predictive maintenance enables organisations to manage maintenance schedules more effectively, optimising labour resources, reducing downtime, and avoiding costly, labour-intensive maintenance procedures.

These insights are powered by comprehensive data analytics and real-time monitoring systems, utilising IoT technologies to track irregularities in sound, vibration, temperature, moisture and more. AI-fuelled digital twin data modelling systems can predict issues before they occur.

By implementing these advanced technological solutions, businesses can make informed, data-driven decisions, ultimately producing alternative energy more affordably and benefiting all Australians.

This is a rare moment in our history to “get things right”. While challenges, risks, and issues persist in our transition to cleaner energy, each presents a unique opportunity to power our nation’s future.

To truly harness this potential, we must create the infrastructure and support necessary for these technologies to thrive.

Without it, their promise will remain unfulfilled.

Warren Zietsman, Managing Director of IFS Australia and New Zealand