After just under six months in Statnett's CEO chair, CEO Hilde Tonne has steered the company into a new operational strategy. The organization is now being prepared to deliver effectively on wide-ranging tasks, with high expectations from society.
Increase in Power Consumption - Need for New Solutions and Grid Development
- We are experiencing a green change of pace. In the last two years, we have seen a massive growth in inquiries from actors who want to connect to the grid. These inquiries come from both new industry and established companies that want to electrify their business based on renewable energy. This means that Statnett must increase the pace of development and strengthen the capacity of the grid, says CEO Hilde Tonne of Statnett.
Statnett's strategy factors in a development where power consumption is increasing sharply. Consumption can increase to up to 220 TWh in 2050, up from 140 TWh today. This requires measures in the grid, new solutions for the market and operations, and increased power production. At the same time, the challenges must be solved in a socially rational way with the least possible environmental cost.
New Forces and New Structure
- We must prepare in the organization and strengthen the management capacity when facing our tasks going forward. Several executive vice presidents have been given new areas of responsibility, and we are also looking for new forces to join the group management. Important keywords are renewal, transformation and diversity, Hilde Tonne emphasizes.
Executive Vice Presidents Elisabeth Vike Vardheim, Gunnar Løvås, Peer Olav Østli, Håkon Borgen and Knut Hundhammer will all be given new or changed tasks in the new group management, at the same time as two new executive vice president positions will be filled. Elisabeth Vike Vardheim will lead the new business area covering management and development of the grid, where the company's management, maintenance, and development of grid facilities will meet. Gunnar Løvås will be responsible for market and systems, and Peer Olav Østli will be responsible for system operation.
Knut Hundhammer continues as CFO and head of the staff area concerning finance and business management. Håkon Borgen will lead the work of developing a new business area related to Statnett's role offshore. Beate S. Krogstad will continue as CIO in the company and will act as Executive Vice President for business area related to transformation and digitization until a new EVP is in place.
A new staff area for people and sustainability will be established, with responsibility for HR and organizational development, and leading Statnett's work within sustainability and HSE.
In addition, the staff functions communications and strategy will report directly to the CEO. These units are led by resp. Henrik Glette and Gabriella Larsson.