Compressed Air-as-a-Service with Blockchain-based Billing
Sector: Secondary sector · Industry: Mechanical and plant engineering · Organisation: KAESER Kompressoren SE · Maturity level: Concept
KAESER Kompressoren has developed a system for consumption-based compressed air billing that combines IoT sensors with automated data collection. The company currently serves 300 customers with various Compressed Air-as-a-Service models under the names SIGMA AIR UTILITY and KAirFree. However, the blockchain-based component for Smart Contract billing is not documented in public sources and may be based on theoretical concepts.
Documentation status
- Project status: Concept
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
Pay-per-use for compressed air is a blockchain-based equipment-as-a-service model: instead of buying a compressor, the company only pays for the compressed air consumed.
The model: manufacturers (Atlas Copco, Kaeser, Boge) install compressors and IoT measurement technology at the customer; consumption is automatically billed via smart contract; maintenance and spare parts are included in the pay-per-use price; the manufacturer has a direct incentive to keep the compressor energy efficient. Blockchain secures the consumption data: both parties see the same immutable measurement value, billing disputes are structurally eliminated. Fraunhofer research (IML/IPT) on mechanical engineering-specific blockchain applications documents similar models.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Industrial companies can avoid capital investments with blockchain-based compressed air pay-per-use, pay only for actual consumption and reduce energy costs through manufacturer optimisation incentives.