SwissDrones Report: 89% of Energy Executives Believe Deteriorating Infrastructure Will Lead to a Major, Preventable Pipeline or Powerline Incident Within the Next Decade

Research finds that industry leaders are fearful of the consequences of aging energy infrastructure, exacerbated by extreme weather events, and are looking to preventative tech to save the day

Zurich, Switzerland, 10 September 2025 – SwissDrones, a leading provider of advanced aerial intelligence solutions and long-range uncrewed helicopter systems, today released its Energy Infrastructure Index. The report, conducted by Censuswide in partnership with SwissDrones, uncovers C-Level energy executives’ greatest concerns about infrastructure risks, calling for better inspection and maintenance protocols, including the use of new technologies like uncrewed helicopter systems.  

The survey finds that energy leaders fear preventable disaster is looming: 89% believe deteriorating infrastructure will lead to a major, preventable pipeline or powerline incident within the next decade.

Executives also voice that consumers will feel the impacts, with 87% stating they expect the U.S. to see a dramatic increase in infrastructure-related service interruptions in just the next five years, and 92% saying decaying infrastructure will be a major driver of consumer price increases over the next decade.

Not only is the grid aging, but increasingly severe weather events are stoking additional concern for executives. 96% say that each time there is a large storm, they worry about their company’s infrastructure holding up. And when it comes to preparing for impacts of disaster, 87% believe the energy industry as a whole is more reactive than proactive.

“These findings echo what many of us in the industry already know – that infrastructure is under immense strain,” said Ulrich Amberg, CEO of SwissDrones. “Traditional inspection methods can no longer keep up, and we must modernize before real disaster strikes. Adopting UAVs is part of a broader strategic shift in how the energy sector approaches modernization. As the industry looks to become more efficient, safe, and sustainable, UAVs are helping to fill the gaps in revitalizing our aging infrastructure.”

Labor shortages and insufficient data are slowing modernization

The energy sector’s workforce is another challenge – 61% of execs say their organization still uses only human labor to inspect their critical infrastructure. However, there aren’t enough workers to meet increasing demands in the sector, and 86% say they’re trying to transition to more automated inspection solutions as a result.

 Meanwhile, 93% of energy leaders say that their greatest challenge is obtaining thorough inspections that catch issues early and accurately, and 69% say they struggle with an inability to conduct inspections frequently enough. Therefore, data is insufficient:

• 48% say their infrastructure data is out of date
• 39% saying there isn’t enough data
• 38% say it’s not detailed enough
• 35% saying it’s not accurate enough

Environmental pressure is accelerating the shift from traditional inspections 

Emissions reduction remains a high priority for energy organizations, and executives are turning their attention to the role inspections operations play. 96% of C-level energy executives say their organization is taking action this year to reduce emissions related to inspection operations, and 97% say reducing their inspection-related emissions would have a significant impact on their organization’s overall carbon footprint.

Crewed helicopters remain standard for aerial inspections, and 97% of execs are aware of their environmental impact, and 95% say they’ve evaluated more environmentally friendly inspection technologies.

Still, many say current maintenance standards fall short. 72% of execs believe today's energy infrastructure maintenance standards are not robust enough to prevent significant environmental damage over the next decade.

UAVs are the future of inspections –  regulation will make it scalable  

There was overwhelming consensus in favor of unmanned aircraft in modernizing inspection operations:

• 96% say UAVs will largely replace helicopters for infrastructure inspections within 10 years
• 96% say UAVs are safer, more efficient, and better for the environment

And while 88% of energy leaders cite regulatory hurdles as the top obstacle to scaling UAV adoption, that’s rapidly changing. Over the past several months, the FAA and Transport Canada have taken major steps forward in developing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) guidance for long-range commercial drones and uncrewed helicopters, including a recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the FAA that paves the way for scaled commercial drone operations in North America.

To download the full report or learn more, visit https://www.swissdrones.com/the-energy-infrastructure-index-2025.

Report Methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from Censuswide. Total sample size was 100 senior energy executives across the U.S. and Canada in sectors including oil, gas, electricity, and utilities. The survey was conducted online in June 2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles.

About SwissDrones

SwissDrones is a leading provider of advanced aerial intelligence solutions and long-range uncrewed helicopter systems, offering comprehensive end-to-end support through an integrated approach that covers aircraft technology, operational excellence, and actionable data insights.  

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, SwissDrones develops innovative systems and an intelligence-as-a-service solution that’s more sustainable, enabling organizations to reduce emissions and operational risks. Approved in over 35 countries, SwissDrones’ technology sets a new standard with unmatched flight endurance, heavy payload capacity, and real-time data insights for mission-critical operations.

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