Procurement SCM Trends Energy 2025

 

What does 2025 have in store for your energy organization?

How can procurement support your wider business as effectively as possible?

The number one trend we predicted for 2024 was that procurement would play a vital role by ensuring rapid, cost-effective value delivery in support of the energy transition. As we look forward to 2025, we believe that trend remains, although the context and circumstances have shifted in the last twelve months. Many challenges lie ahead, but so do exciting opportunities.

Here, we outline the five key trends that we at Inverto believe will shape the energy sector in 2025.

Ever greater demand for energy will force increased infrastructure investment and stretch resources

Between 2015 and 2023, the global capacity to produce clean energy grew from 120 to 530 GW per year. Analysts predict that figure will reach 730 GW per year by 2035¹. This surge is driven by electrification of transport systems, the accelerated growth of data centers and digital services, and rapid industrialization in developing nations. Increased usage of heating and cooling technologies in response to the climate crisis also plays a significant role.

However, national power grids are struggling to keep pace. Many of them are simply unable to modernize and meet customer requirements due to a lack of investment. Grids risk becoming the weakest link in the transition to clean energy, with over 80 million kilometers requiring upgrades by 2040².

As of November 2023, 3,000 GW of renewable projects await grid connection. This is equivalent to five times the solar and wind capacity added in 2022.  Yet investment in grids has remained static, creating a clear imbalance between demand and infrastructure readiness.

Even in countries where there are policy commitments and funding to support the grid  competition for grid resources remains fierce. Energy procurement professionals will have to think innovatively to secure supplies, from power transformers to steel reserves. Innovative solutions like remanufacturing transformers locally or sourcing steel pylons overseas, could address critical shortages. Procurement professionals will need to think beyond their current purchasing status quo to consider whether specifications or how they engage with their business partners need to be adapted to secure the resources needed to drive the energy transition.

Energy players will be forced to increase resilience – both in infrastructure and throughout supply chains

Extreme weather events are occurring with increasing frequency, underlying the urgent need for resilience in energy systems and their supply chains. In the USA alone, power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl in East Texas and Hurricane Milton in Florida cost the economy $150 bn annually, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Globally, events like Storm Bert in Ireland and heatwaves in the Balkans have highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains and infrastructure.

Hardening energy grids and creating resilient supply chains present challenges. The value chain for hardened grid materials differs significantly from standard components. For example, concrete poles require greater logistical planning than standard wooden poles. The procurement professional will have to navigate these complexities throughout the organization: how do we ensure value-for-money with these new items? How do we ship and store these items? What process changes need to be put in place for their installation? With new purchases comes a reinvention of past practices to make way for the future.

Integrating resilience into energy networks also requires advanced technologies and a new approach to category strategies. Predictive maintenance systems powered by AI can identify failure points based on past events, while reinforcing older structures via weather-resistant materials, or, by simply elevating equipment, may provide simpler solutions to prevent future outages.  While some of these technologies may rest outside of the remit of the procurement professional, creating holistic category strategies together with your business partners that dually focus on (1) internally optimizing purchasing processes and (2) leveraging market innovations procurement, will position procurement professionals at the forefront of enabling a resilient, sustainable energy network.

Policy changes may shift energy sector resources back towards hydrocarbon technologies

Latest geopolitical developments might favor a shift in energy sector resources back toward hydrocarbon technologies. For instance, the appointment of an oil and gas industry executive as Energy Secretary suggests support for the hydrocarbon sector through deregulation and increased drilling on federal lands. New investments in pipelines and offshore drilling might redirect resources away from renewables.

This shift will intensify competition for skilled labor, drilling equipment, and specialized machinery, creating supply constraints and higher prices. New territories for hydrocarbon extraction will require entirely new supply chains, adding further complexity. Impacts may be felt beyond the United States, with intensified global demand for drilling equipment, pipelines, and related technology, driving higher prices and creating supply constraints for materials like steel and specialized machinery. Servicing these requirements could also put increased strain on the labor market where specialized labor, such as engineers, geologists, and technicians, are already in short supply.

Procurement professionals must anticipate these changes, ensuring projects are well-scoped and future requirements are fully understood and secured through robust legal and commercial terms. Proactive strategies will position organizations to adapt to this rebalancing of resources.

After COP29, green energy transition to accelerate in developing nations, but so will core component costs

After COP29, the transition to green energy remains a priority in developing nations, but uncertainties persist, both in policy follow-through and in the affordability of key technologies.

While COP29 secured commitments for $300bn in climate finance, the practical impact remains unclear, as past agreements have often struggled with implementation. Governments were encouraged to introduce policies like feed-in tariffs, tax incentives, and streamlined permitting to boost investment, but broader political and economic uncertainties may slow decisive action.

This comes at a time when equipment costs are rising for renewables as global projects continue to increase⁴. Since 2022, increased demand, has driven up core components prices, and it’s likely that COP29 may exacerbate this trend. Additionally, raw material constraints, such as the surge in silver demand for solar panels, further contribute to higher costs. The rising costs of materials and equipment put renewed emphasis on the need for effective procurement strategies focused on driving value within this sector.

This requires the integration of procurement within the project delivery team to take a total cost of ownership lens and maintain an ear to changes in the supply market, tailoring strategies to manage uncertainty across long-term planning horizons and complex supply chains. Procurement must take a holistic approach to value: not just in cost, but through quality, on-time delivery, and meeting the standards that the business requires.

Driving a value-focused deal requires a re-structuring of the buyer/seller relationship, working not adversarially but in partnership for the mutual benefit of both parties, with negotiations that are data-driven and grounded in a shared future. Procurement must move away from “What can you do for me?” to “What can we do for each other?” to help the green energy sector grow and thrive throughout 2025 and beyond.

AI will take on an ever-greater role in support of procurement in the energy sector

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to transform procurement and supply chain management in the energy sector. From automating supply chain operations to leveraging generative AI (GenAI) for drafting RFPs, enhancing demand forecasting, and optimizing supply chain networks, AI is becoming an indispensable tool for procurement teams. By automating routine tasks and delivering deeper insights from vast datasets, AI enables procurement functions to shift from operational support to strategic value creation.

In the energy sector, AI’s role extends beyond typical procurement applications. It supports critical operations like optimizing energy generation, improving grid distribution efficiency, and predicting maintenance needs for renewable energy infrastructure. At the same time, AI-driven advancements, such as the proliferation of data centers, are driving energy consumption, creating challenges for procurement teams to address increased demand for renewable energy sources and energy-efficient solutions. For example, procurement functions play a pivotal role in sourcing innovative materials for solar panels, managing inventory for wind turbines, and ensuring reliable supply chains to support the energy transition.

Organizations that embed AI within day-to-day procurement processes not only reduce costs by automating non-complex operational tasks but also unlock efficiencies that position procurement as a strategic enabler of the business. By focusing on high-impact activities, procurement teams can better support their organizations’ goals of achieving resilient, sustainable supply chains and driving the energy transition. Embracing AI now will set procurement functions apart, helping them build agility and create lasting value in a rapidly evolving industry.

What’s next for 2025?

As 2025 takes shape, the energy industry will face challenges as well as opportunities. As a procurement professional, you are at the center of critical decisions, finding essential components in competitive markets, adapting to changing energy policies, and using advanced technologies to stay ahead. This is your time to make an impact.

Get in contact with our experts

Stefan Benett

Managing Director

contact@inverto.com
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Callum Phillips

Principal

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¹ Five trends that will define global power markets in the next 10 years

² Modern, smart and expanded grids are essential for successful energy transitions

³ COP29 UN Climate Conference Agrees to Triple Finance to Developing Countries, Protecting Lives and Livelihoods

⁴ E.g., Hornsea Wind Farm (6GW) and Dogger Bank (3.6GW) in the UK, Vineyard Wind 1 (0.8GW) and SunZia Wind (3.5GW) in the US, and Hollandse Kust Zuid Wind Farm (1.5GW) in Europe highlight the expanding focus on clean, renewable energy

 

 

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