Energetica India Magazine - November 2025

Q How do your intelligent, connected, and smart air systems help make solar manufacturers ready for Smart Manufac - turing and Industry 4.0? Sunil Natekar: Atlas Copco is making a significant contribu- tion to the smooth transition of solar manufacturers to In- dustry 4.0. Our intelligent and connected air systems, like SMARTLINK, provide real-time insights into equipment performance, allowing teams to monitor operations and plan maintenance before issues arise. The Elektronikon controllers connect everything together, providing a clear view of the compressed air system for real-time optimisation. What’s interesting is how data drives everything; smart tools record every process, flag errors, and ensure perfect assembly. With variable speed drive compressors, the system automati- cally adjusts motor speed to match air demand, saving energy while maintaining performance. All of this data goes into a continuous improvement cycle, which helps to enhance quali- ty, efficiency, and even R&D. Additionally, our systems integrate easily with existing setups and support 5G connectivity for faster, safer communication. The outcome results in lower energy use, fewer emissions, and a cleaner, more sustainable manufacturing process for the so- lar industry. Q What demand trends or new applications do you see in the solar market for air and gas systems? Sunil Natekar: The solar industry is obviously shifting to- wards cleaner and smarter operations. We are experiencing high demand for air and gas systems that promote decar- bonisation and energy efficiency. Solar thermal integration, solar-powered HVAC, and AI/IoT-based optimisation are driving this trend, allowing enterprises to save costs, improve performance, and reduce their carbon footprint. Turnkey compressed air and gas solutions are being preferred as they offer a one-stop solution and ownership of the complete sys- tem. Stringent compressed air quality is used to maintain product quality, especially in solar cell manufacturing. Decarbonisation Push: Industries are evaluating suppliers on a total cost of ownership basis, and energy efficiency is given priority. Also, industries are replacing fossil-fuel-driven pneu- matic systems with solar-powered compressors to reduce car- bon footprints. O&M Optimisation: Solar plants require compressed air for cleaning panels (dust removal) and operating pneumatic ac- tuators in tracking systems. Demand for low-maintenance, energy-efficient compressors is rising. Q How is digitalisation transforming compressor manage - ment and maintenance? Sunil Natekar: Digitalisation has completely changed how compressors are managed and maintained. Earlier, mainte- nance was mostly reactive; when something would go wrong, and then the team would fix it. Now, with connected compres- sors and smart monitoring systems, we can track performance and air consumption in real time. This data assists in identify- ing even minor inefficiencies before they become major ones. It’s also enabled predictive maintenance. Instead of following a fixed schedule, service is done based on actual equipment condition. This not only cuts downtime but also saves energy and money. Overall, digitalisation is making compressor man- agement far more efficient, reliable, and sustainable. Q How do you envision the future of the compressor indus - try in India, particularly in the context of renewable ener - gy and smart manufacturing? Sunil Natekar: The future of the compressor industry in India looks promising, driven by two major trends: renewable ener- gy integration and smart manufacturing. India has already crossed 200 GW of renewable capacity and targets 500 GW by 2030, creating a strong push for green in- dustrialisation. Compressors will play a key role in both module and cell man- ufacturing, green hydrogen production, carbon capture, and energy-efficient processes. Adoption of IoT-enabled compres- sors, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven monitoring will become standard. These technologies reduce downtime and optimise energy use. Variable Speed Drive (VSD) technology is now widely adopted, significantly improving energy effi- ciency. Large-scale installations are moving toward centrifu- gal compressors for better performance. The compressor industry in India is moving toward energy ef- ficiency, digitalisation, and sustainability, making it a critical enabler for smart factories and renewable energy ecosystems. energetica INDIA- November_2025 23 INTERVIEW