Manufacturing is the industry sector most associated with using the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to remotely control energy-consuming devices. But it’s far from the only one. Utilities, commercial buildings, and agriculture all use networked sensors and controllers to manage equipment like HVAC systems, pumps, lighting, and production machinery from a distance. The global IoT energy management market was valued at nearly $98 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $428 billion by 2034, growing at roughly 18% per year.
Manufacturing Leads in IIoT Energy Control
Manufacturing facilities are the heaviest adopters of IIoT for energy management, and the results show up clearly in productivity data. A 2025 study of European firms found that IoT adoption had a statistically significant effect on energy productivity in manufacturing and construction, while the same effect was not measurable in service-sector firms. That makes sense: factories run large motors, compressors, furnaces, and production lines that consume enormous amounts of electricity, and even small optimizations translate into meaningful cost savings.
In a typical setup, sensors throughout a factory floor monitor power draw, temperature, vibration, and machine status in real time. A central control system collects that data and can remotely adjust or shut down non-critical equipment during peak energy pricing windows. One documented example describes a facility where the controls system signals smart sensors across departments to reduce load by turning off forklift charging stations, changing HVAC setpoints, dimming lights, and slowing or stopping non-critical pumping processes. All of this happens through a building management system integrated with IoT technology, acting as an optimization hub that takes in both external signals (like utility pricing) and internal production data.
Utilities Use IIoT for Demand Response
Electric utilities rely on IIoT to manage grid stability through demand response programs. Instead of firing up additional power plants during peak hours, utilities can signal commercial and industrial customers to reduce their electricity load. This is where remote control of energy-consuming devices becomes a grid-level tool rather than just a facility-level one.
These programs work in two main ways. Time-based rate programs use smart meters and sensors to let customers see real-time electricity prices and automatically shift their usage. Event-driven programs are more direct: the utility notifies participants hours or a day ahead of a peak event, and connected systems at the customer’s facility automatically begin shedding load. Advanced metering infrastructure and IoT-connected devices make these programs far more responsive than the older approach of simply calling a facility manager on the phone.
The technology ranges from simple timers and occupancy sensors to sophisticated systems that predict and react to real-time grid conditions. The most advanced setups use smart metering, IoT connectivity, and on-site energy storage together, allowing a facility to pre-cool a building before a demand response event, then coast through the peak period with reduced grid draw.
Commercial Buildings and Smart HVAC
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning accounts for a large share of energy use in office buildings, hospitals, retail spaces, and hotels. IIoT-enabled building management systems remotely monitor and control HVAC units, lighting, and security systems based on real-time occupancy data. If a floor of an office building empties out at 3 p.m., sensors detect the change and the system automatically dials back cooling and dims lights without anyone touching a thermostat.
This isn’t just about saving money. These systems also maintain air quality standards and thermal comfort in occupied zones, which affects worker productivity and tenant satisfaction. The ability to manage dozens or hundreds of HVAC units across multiple buildings from a single dashboard is what makes IIoT valuable here. A property management company overseeing a portfolio of buildings can standardize setpoints, track energy trends, and respond to equipment faults remotely.
Agriculture and Remote Irrigation Control
Precision agriculture is a growing use case. Farmers use IIoT to remotely control irrigation pumps, greenhouse climate systems, and other energy-consuming equipment spread across large areas of land. A recent implementation used soil moisture sensors and temperature monitors connected wirelessly to a base station running on solar power. When soil moisture dropped below 45%, the system automatically activated the irrigation pump. When moisture reached 80%, it shut the pump off.
The entire system could be monitored and overridden through a web interface, letting farmers manage irrigation from anywhere with an internet connection. This reduces both water waste and energy consumption, since pumps only run when conditions require it rather than on a fixed schedule. The communication between sensors and the control hub used MQTT, a lightweight messaging protocol designed specifically for devices with limited power and bandwidth, which is common across IIoT applications.
How Remote Control Actually Works
Two communication protocols dominate IIoT remote control. MQTT is a lightweight messaging system that excels at connecting large numbers of low-power sensors and actuators. It’s efficient, scales well, and is the default choice for many IoT deployments, from agricultural sensors to factory floor devices. OPC UA is a heavier protocol that offers stronger built-in security and better interoperability between different manufacturers’ equipment. It’s more common in complex industrial environments where reliability and data integrity are critical.
In practice, many systems use both. Field-level sensors might communicate via MQTT to an edge gateway, which then translates that data into OPC UA for integration with enterprise-level control systems. Older industrial equipment often still uses Modbus, a decades-old protocol that IIoT gateways can bridge into modern networks. The key point for any of these setups is that the “remote control” part means a software system, sometimes with human oversight, can send commands to physical devices (open a valve, slow a motor, change a temperature setpoint) over a network connection.
Security Risks of Remote Energy Control
Giving network access to devices that consume significant power introduces real cybersecurity concerns. If someone can remotely turn off a pump or change a furnace setpoint, so can an attacker who gains access to that system. The convergence of operational technology (the physical equipment) with information technology (the network and software) creates vulnerabilities that can compromise system reliability, operational continuity, and data integrity.
The risks are especially acute in energy infrastructure. An attacker who manipulates demand response signals or takes control of grid-connected equipment could destabilize local power systems. Current gaps include limited real-time threat detection, inconsistent data protection across different parts of the energy supply chain, and a lack of standardized security policies across energy markets. For individual facilities, this means IIoT deployments need to include network segmentation, encrypted communications, and access controls that limit who and what can send commands to critical equipment.