Sweden & Norway
Breaking new ground through cross-Nordic synergies
When it comes to VEO’s business in Sweden and Norway, 2021 was a year of significant new deals in hydropower, data centres and lifecycle services, as well as an intense execution phase in wind power connections. Concerning the way of working, especially in Sweden, it was a year of reflection and regrouping to crystallise VEO’s mission for both existing and potential employees; VEO is an employer taking care of its people while they design and execute carbon-neutral solutions.
Viktor Forss, MD of VEO AS for many years already, looks back at an eventful year. Not only did he witness some of the largest deals to date in some business segments, but he also stepped in as MD for VEO AB. In his new role as Vice President Nordics, Forss continues to integrate and further build the team from the Swedish consultancy company VEO bought in 2019 and which was officially merged into the VEO Group in December 2020.
Developing VEO’s Nordic organisation locally in Sweden and Norway is something Forss feels strongly about. Having started his VEO career in Vaasa, Finland, and having built upon it in Norway, he has a good perception of how to build efficient cross-border cooperation by implementing the right mix of project processes enhanced with local expertise.
“Sweden and Norway, in general, have come a long way when it comes to combining wellbeing at work with high efficiency. This is something we focus on cultivating at VEO AB and AS, that is, we aim to improve both the work-life balance and the way we work”, Forss explains.
Wind and hydropower business remains solid
Hydropower development in Sweden shows no sign of abating. There is a steady demand for reliable suppliers in electrification and automation, and for a few years already, VEO has seen that they are invited into their clients’ processes at increasingly early stages. In 2021, VEO secured large hydropower deals with several long-term clients and successfully established new client relations with major European renewable energy producers.
When it comes to wind power, it was a year of execution in Sweden as VEO initiated the work relating to the gigantic wind power deals made in the previous years. In Norway, a couple of significant deals concerning lifecycle services were signed.
“These maintenance deals are out of the ordinary but sit very well with our renewed strategy, where we see ourselves as dedicated partners to our key clients in Sweden and Norway, also after their large-scale wind parks are connected”, Forss states.
Expanding in the data centre segment
In 2021, return customer Bulk Infrastructure chose VEO for the electrification of the second phase of their Campus N01 data centre. VEO successfully connected the first stage of the data centre in 2016, and the current 200 MW extension will bring the data centre closer to its aim of being the world’s largest data centre powered by 100% green energy.
“A data centre places exceptionally high demands on energy supply and operational reliability, as downtime is something that simply cannot occur”, Forss explains and continues “Being chosen again by Bulk Infrastructure shows that they value and rely on VEO’s expertise.”
Recruiting for the future
During 2021, VEO AS and AB also continued to build on other strategic goals including entering new business segments in Sweden and Norway, such as the industry segment. Growing in existing segments and aspiring to tap in on new ones requires resources.
“The electrification of the society will continue with full force and VEO is a major player in this arena. By helping our clients to integrate their renewable energy projects, we reach carbon-neutral goals together. This is a journey that young engineers want to be part of, and we are more than happy to welcome them onboard.”
In 2022, VEO AS and VEO AB will start working more closely with local universities to make VEO more familiar to engineering students – a concept successfully used in Vaasa, Finland for many years.
“Being an international actor is all about sharing best practices across borders and modifying them to perfectly suit the local market. This is an approach we live by both when it comes to project work, the work environment, recruiting and onboarding”, Forss concludes.
