Spotlight on Ashvani Shukla - CEO, Aeron Systems
Ashvani Shukla
CEO, Aeron Systems
About Ashvani:
Ashvani Shukla is the CEO of Aeron Systems, a deep‑tech company pioneering intelligent electronics for weather monitoring, inertial navigation, and renewable energy solutions. An IIT graduate, he has over 16 years of leadership in aerospace and renewable energy, with a strong track record in innovation and technology development. Under his leadership, Aeron has become a trusted name in delivering precision‑engineered systems for demanding applications worldwide. Passionate about advancing clean energy through deep‑tech innovation, Ashvani focuses on enabling data‑driven transformation and improving the long‑term performance of solar projects.
Please describe your role at Aeron Systems as well as your industry expertise.
As CEO of Aeron Systems, I lead our mission to build intelligent sensing and data platforms that support the future of mobility and green energy infrastructure. With a background in inertial navigation, weather instrumentation, and renewable energy systems, I align our technology roadmap with evolving market needs. My role is to understand customer pain points and translate these insights into actionable goals for our engineering, R&D, and operations teams, ensuring solutions that are both advanced and reliable in the field.
I am supported by a seasoned team with decades of on‑ground experience, currently driving Aeron’s expansion in the MENA region. Together, we are building local service capabilities to support landmark solar projects across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond. My focus is on ensuring Aeron remains a trusted, long‑term partner in advancing renewable energy and smart mobility.
What motivated Aeron Systems to invest in the MENA's solar industry?
The two major countries in MENA, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have set bold renewable energy targets as part of their long-term economic diversification plans. Saudi Arabia aims to generate 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, while the UAE aims to triple its renewable energy capacity to 14 GW by 2030. Combined with the region’s abundant solar potential, progressive policies, and large-scale infrastructure investments, MENA presents a compelling market for enabling technologies like Aeron’s Weather Stations.
What truly inspired us was the chance to contribute to projects operating in some of the world’s harshest environments—deserts, coastal zones, and remote locations. Aeron’s weather stations are purpose-built for these conditions, delivering accurate, high-resolution weather data that helps optimize solar plant performance.
Can you tell us about what sets you apart from other competitors?
Though a Weather Station accounts for just about 0.3% of total project cost, the data it provides can save developers millions in lost revenue and O&M costs. That value is realized only through reliable, accurate Met Systems—something Aeron consistently delivers. Our strength lies in deep vertical integration, with most components of the Weather Monitoring System (WMS) designed and manufactured in-house. Our plug-and-play systems deploy 30% faster, are built for zero downtime, and feature remote diagnostics and management, making them ideal for utility-scale solar plants.
At the core is a compact, rugged data logger that seamlessly integrates with SCADA, delivering bankable, high-resolution data compliant with IEC 61724-1 Class A. Beyond technology, we act as a long-term partner, offering periodic calibration, maintenance, PR testing, and performance validation, ensuring significant O&M savings over a 30-year lifecycle. With deployments in 20+ countries, Aeron provides accuracy, uptime, and complete peace of mind—under one trusted roof.
What's a recent milestone Aeron Systems has achieved that you would like to share with us?
We recently reached a major milestone with our Meteorological (Met) Systems now deployed across 36 GW of solar capacity worldwide, spanning utility-scale installations in India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. In the MENA region, we are grateful for the opportunity to support flagship projects such as PIF4 in Saudi Arabia and Phase 6 of the DEWA Solar Park in the UAE, both emblematic of the region’s ambitious clean-energy vision. We sincerely value the trust placed in us by leading developers including ACWA Power, Masdar, EDF, Engie, and Alfanar, whose confidence has been instrumental in strengthening our presence.
In Europe, recent approvals from top-tier developers such as Lightsource BP are accelerating our footprint, enabling us to contribute to some of the continent’s most advanced solar projects. Looking ahead, we are on track to surpass 40 GW of deployments by the end of 2025, reinforcing Aeron’s position as a trusted partner in the global solar transition.
What are your expectations for the MENA region in terms of growth and new opportunities for Aeron Systems?
The MENA region is among the fastest-growing solar markets globally, projected to add 15–20 GW annually over the next decade. Given the region’s ambitious targets and challenging operating conditions, developers here are leading the adoption of advanced technologies to maximize performance, reduce downtime, and minimize manual intervention. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are setting global benchmarks through large-scale projects and the integration of smart grid and digitalization initiatives into their solar infrastructure.
For Aeron, this is a major opportunity. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, we are committed to localizing the manufacturing of our Weather Station solutions, ensuring faster delivery, localized support, and long-term sustainability. Our membership in MESIA further reflects our intent to collaborate closely with industry stakeholders, share deep-tech expertise, and contribute meaningfully to shaping the future of solar innovation and resilience across MENA.
How do you see the effects of the increasing adoption of solar energy on the MENA's economy in the coming years?
Historically, MENA has been a global energy powerhouse via oil and gas—but now it is transitioning into clean‑energy leadership, especially in solar. The region is projected to add 15–20 GW of solar capacity annually, aiming for more than 150 GW of renewables by 2030. Renewable energy investment in MENA is expected to surpass $60 billion by 2030, growing at a 14% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
This rapid expansion is set to create millions of green jobs, fueling economic diversification and high‑tech employment. Localization policies, particularly under initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030 are strengthening domestic industries, building resilient supply chains, and ensuring greater value capture within the region. Beyond industrial growth and job creation, this clean‑energy shift positions MENA as a global leader in sustainable development, contributing significantly to both regional prosperity and the world’s transition toward a low‑carbon future.
Open question, is there something you want to add?
As we look ahead, the next decade in solar will be shaped by intelligent, climate-smart technologies that deliver measurable value. At Aeron, we are developing an AI-driven platform for solar O&M capable of reducing operational costs by up to 80% and lowering manpower needs through advanced man–machine interfaces and predictive automation. Our goal is to move closer to an autonomous solar plant, where real-time data and intelligent forecasting minimize downtime and maximize efficiency.
Recent events, such as the Spain blackout earlier this year, have underscored the importance of accurate generation forecasting and BESS integration in building resilient grids. With better forecasting and proactive diagnostics, solar assets can evolve from passive generators into active contributors to grid stability and energy security.
We’re excited to share that Aeron will be exhibiting at the Solar & Storage Show in Riyadh this October. We’re also hiring locally for our upcoming Riyadh office and welcome like-minded professionals to join us.
About Aeron Systems
Aeron Systems is a 16‑year‑old deep‑tech company headquartered in India, specializing in inertial navigation and weather monitoring solutions. A pioneer in defense technology, Aeron builds airborne‑certified inertial navigation systems for aircraft, drones, land, and naval platforms. All products are designed, developed, and manufactured in‑house at Aeron’s state‑of‑the‑art R&D facilities, ensuring innovation, quality, and vertical integration.
In renewable energy, Aeron delivers Class A Weather Monitoring Stations for utility‑scale solar plants, compliant with global standards and optimized for harsh climatic conditions. With deployments spanning 36 GW worldwide, including 10 GW in the MENA region, Aeron provides bankable weather data to help developers optimize performance, enhance reliability, and maximize returns.