Air Compressors for Energy Sector
In the energy industry, compressed air is mission critical. A failure is not a minor inconvenience. It can stop an offshore platform, set off a safety alarm at a power station or contaminate a high-value product stream in a refinery. Downtime costs you money and increases risk every minute it happens.
For operators in oil & gas, power, and renewables, a reliable and efficient compressed air system is fundamental to performance and compliance. At Control Gear, we design, install, and maintain advanced Atlas Copco compressed air systems that meet the energy sector’s most demanding standards.
Air Compressor Solutions for Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables
One size does not fit all in the energy business. Find customised solutions designed for the specific challenges of each application.
Oil & Gas: Rugged reliability to the highest levels of purity
- Upstream: In harsh offshore environments, you need rugged compressors to power drilling and critical safety systems. Reliability is everything.
- Midstream: For transport and processing, consistent air pressure is key for pipeline maintenance and process control.
Downstream: In refining, contamination can ruin entire product batches. This is where 100% oil-free air and equipment with ATEX certification for hazardous environments are essential.
Power Generation: Uptime and Safety Guaranteed
- Conventional Plants: Compressors provide the high-pressure starting air for gas turbines and the instrument air that controls your plant. Unwavering reliability prevents costly plant trips.
- Nuclear Plants: Safety is absolute. Our systems provide starting air for emergency diesel generators, the ultimate backup when it's needed most.
Renewables, Hydrogen & Carbon Capture: Powering the Future
- Renewables Manufacturing: Producing wind turbines and solar panels demands exceptionally clean, oil-free air to ensure product quality and lifespan.
- Energy Storage: We provide the large-scale compressors for Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems, which act as "mechanical batteries" to stabilise the grid.
- Hydrogen & Carbon Capture: Our specialised compressors are vital for the compression and transport of hydrogen and for CO₂ recovery, supporting the UK’s Net Zero goals.
Oil-Free, VSD & Energy Recovery: Reducing Costs in Energy Applications
Choosing the right technology directly impacts your bottom line. We focus on three key areas to improve performance and cut operational costs.
Protect Your Processes with 100% Oil-Free Air
- Benefit: ISO 8573-1 Class 0 guarantees 100% oil-free air. That means no risk of contamination, protecting your catalysts, products, and processes.
- Why it matters: For downstream refining and renewables manufacturing, purity is non-negotiable. Our Compressed Air Quality Testing & Standards services ensure your systems meet this critical standard.
- Action: Contact our team for advice on Class 0 oil-free compliance.
Stop Paying for Wasted Energy with Variable Speed Drive (VSD)
- Benefit: With VSD, you only pay for the air you actually use. It matches motor speed to real-time air demand, cutting energy bills by up to 60%.
- Why it matters: Energy accounts for over 80% of a compressor's lifetime cost. A VSD compressor delivers a return on investment in as little as two to five years.
- Technical Note: Unlike fixed-speed models that run flat out, VSD technology intelligently adjusts power consumption, eliminating waste during periods of lower demand.
Turn Waste Heat into a Free Resource
- Benefit: Up to 94% of the energy a compressor uses is rejected as heat. Energy Recovery in Air Compressor Systems can capture up to 90% of that waste heat.
- Why it matters: The recovered energy can be used to heat water or buildings. Doing so reduces your other utility bills and helps you meet your sustainability objectives.
- Action: Enquire with our experts how much you could save with an energy recovery unit.
Your Expert Partner in the UK Energy Sector
Control Gear is an Atlas Copco Premier Distributor with over 50 years’ experience in fluid power, with a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost specialists in the sector. We’re accredited to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
For decades, we’ve supported the energy hubs of South Wales and the West, from the Pembroke refineries to major power stations. Our engineers are experts in specifying equipment that meets critical industry standards, including API 618/619 and ATEX directives. Our solutions also support ESOS compliance and contribute to the UK’s 2050 Net Zero targets.
We help you maximise uptime and deliver measurable savings:
- SMARTLINK Remote Monitoring: We watch your system 24/7, providing real-time alerts to prevent failures before they happen.
- System Audits: Leaks force compressors to work harder — costing you money every month. Our Compressed Air Leak Detection audits find and fix this invisible waste. Our specialists can help you achieve these savings — ask us about a system audit today.
Why Work With Us?
A Complete Service Portfolio for the Energy Sector
We provide end-to-end solutions tailored to your operations:
- Expert installation and servicing of Centrifugal Compressors.
- Cost-effective On-Site Nitrogen Generation.
- Energy-efficient Atlas Copco AIRnet pipework systems.
- Flexible service contracts, like our Guardian Service Plan, with fixed-price coverage for up to 9 years.
- A genuine 24/7 emergency call-out service to keep you running.
Call Control Gear now to design a custom compressed air solution for your energy needs. Our experts will service you from audits and compliance through installation and 24/7 support to ensure your system is as reliable, efficient and cost saving as possible.
