Evolving Energy & Sustainability Priorities

What 2025 Taught Us and How 2026 Is Taking Shape

2025 in Review

Last year was a big shift for many Australian businesses – with global trends such as the surge in leveraging AI making ripples across the world, and domestically the new climate disclosures legislation rapidly evolving the need for business’ sustainability reporting. Companies moved past the big net-zero promises and started to put real plans into action. We saw a significant focal shift, in which practical steps such as digitally enabled transition strategies, smarter energy procurement and sustainability reporting (backed by strong data) were implemented into the business structure. Now businesses are seeking partners who can make sense of their complex information, using AI and automation to turn scattered information into clear insights with simple prompts and minimal clicks. Companies want to convert their big sustainability goals into real actions that make a difference, progressing beyond the small initiatives that may look good but don’t create meaningful, enduring outcomes.

Upcoming Trends for 2026

With the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) continuing their roll-out with Group 2 entities commencing their first mandatory reporting periods, increasingly smaller businesses will need to show credible understanding of climate issues and progress in their sustainability efforts. Investors and Company Directors will request ESG data that is trustworthy and tools like AI-enabled data management platforms and climate scenario modelling are becoming essential to meeting both regulatory and broader stakeholder requirements. Compliance is existential. As we saw in 2025, we expect to see more businesses engaging with Resource Advisor and Zeigo – two platforms in our software suite that enable compliance and sustainability progress within and beyond the value chain. Meanwhile, economic uncertainty is driving a greater need for businesses to be sure they are not wasting resources – time, money, energy, input materials, etc. The low-hanging fruit of things as simple as utility invoice validation often yields cost savings for our clients, as does network tariff optimisation. We leverage our technology platforms to do these reviews effectively, combining these tools with people to ensure the changes occur to capture the savings.

Wasting physical energy is just as terrible and our Energy Performance Services help to ensure energy is not wasted; best taken with energy efficiency audits to find the biggest savings!

Similarly, energy market price volatility continues, creating uncertainty in energy budgets. This same volatility also creates cost savings opportunities for some; detailed analyses can inform the most commercially viable path forward for energy contracting or the energy transition, while progressive purchasing can spread timing and volume risk for others.

All of this while the way the world accounts for Scope 2 emissions is under review. Should the proposed changes be implemented, granularity becomes a must – something we are already built for here in Australia, even if we prefer the simpler emissions accounting rules.

How Schneider Electric Advisory Services Can Help in 2026

Our team of experts combines strategic insight with advanced digital tools and implementation plans to help you move fast, confidently, and sustainably. From day one, we align strategy, technology, and execution while staying true to Schneider Electric’s foundational strengths in electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, ultimately simplifying complexity and accelerating impact for your business. From ASRS reporting and energy optimisation to procurement and electrification strategies, we deliver flexible solutions to advance your sustainability journey.