23 Oct 2025

Bothnia Green Energy - Beyond Borders

Welcome to Bothnia Green Energy's final conference, Beyond Borders, in Örnsköldsvik. The event brings together energy and industry stakeholders, regional actors and partners to accelerate the green transition in the Kvarken region. Gain insights into job shadowing, direct current solutions and excess heat. Beyond Borders is the place where inspiration meets change.

The Bothnia Green Energy project invites energy and industry professionals, regional actors and collaboration partners to its final conference in Örnsköldsvik. This event explores how the green transition can be accelerated through shared expertise in the Kvarken region. Join us to gain insights into job shadowing, direct current solutions, and excess heat! Whether you are leading change or looking to be inspired, Beyond Borders is where progress meets possibility! 

 

Date: October 23rd, 2025
Time: 09.00-16.00
Location: Nya Parken, Folkparksgatan 3 Örnsköldsvik
Language: English
Price: The event is free of charge but ferry, train, and hotel costs are to be covered by the participants
Transfer: We will arrange transfer from Wasaline in Umeå Hamn/Holmsund and Umeå on the 22nd

Programme

Wednesday, October 22nd 
20.00 – Conference Dinner  
Join us for a relaxed evening of networking and local flavours at selected restaurants in Örnsköldsvik. 

 
Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 

Moderator: Stina Haglund, YourWill AB 
 
Programme 
09.00 – 09.30  
Welcome Coffee & Networking 

 
09.30

Introduction Moderator

Stina Haglund, YourWill AB

 

Welcome to Örnsköldsvik, Beyond Borders and the Green transition in Örnsköldsvik. 

Anna-Britta Åkerlind, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Helena Näsström, Project Manager, RISE Processum AB, and Roland Nordin, CEO Övik Energi AB. 

 

Liquid Wind – Pioneering E-Fuel Production 

Ulrika Johansson, Business Developer at Liquid Wind, shares insights into cutting-edge renewable fuel technologies in Örnsköldsvik and beyond.  

 

Coffee Break 

 

The Importance of Cross-Border Collaboration (video)
Joakim Strand, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering of Finland, and Member of the Finnish Parliament 

 

Bothnia Green Energy – Project Highlights 

Åsa Fällman, Chairperson of the Steering Committee and Peter Hedman, Project Manager for Bothnia Green Energy, share the results of the project. 

 

The Kvarken Council Energy Board – Driving Cross-Border Collaboration 

Hear from leaders Roger Holm, CEO of Oy Herrfors Group AB, Kirsi Hautala CEO Kokkolan Energia Oy, Roland Nordin, CEO of Övik Energi AB, and Mathias Lindström, Director of the Kvarken Council, on why regional energy cooperation is vital for the green transition. 

 

Focus Area: Power to Talent – Collaboration and Job Shadowing 
What has been achieved, what lessons have been learned, and what might future collaboration look like?  Is job shadowing a future way of working? Experiences shared by Axel Lindberg, Process Engineer and Helen Eriksson, HR Developer, both from Övik Energi AB, and by Michaela Dahlsten, HR manager, Herrfors Oy. 

 

12.10 – 13.10 Lunch 

 

Focus Area: Energy Innovations in Construction and Real Estate 

What has been done, and what have we learned? Presentations by Jenny Åkermark, Umeå Municipality and Catarina Still, Concordia. How can we promote innovative energy solutions within the real estate sector? How can we make these solutions visible? And how do we match the solutions with the actual needs? Maria Olofsson at Ignite Sweden will guide us.  

 

Focus Area: Direct Current Networks 
Are direct current networks part of the future electricity system? Leo Byskata at KOSEK will give us an introduction to the subject. Henrik Söderström at AFRY will share results from two pilot simulations: Alholmen Industrial Park (AIP) and one of UPAB’s parking garages in Umeå. How can AIP use the results? Åsa Björkman, Project Manager at AIP knows. 

 
Short Break

 

Focus area: Excess Heat  
Linda Blancher, BGE and Project Manager at Skellefteå Science City, will guide us through Excess Heat. Take a snack and watch Excess heat – The Movie. Panel discussion among energy companies’ representatives about how to utilize excess heat, and finally, what do you know about excess heat?

 

What Role Will the Kvarken Region Play in the Future Energy Landscape? 
What could the future look like? What different scenarios can we see for Kvarken in the green transition and new energy landscape? Margareta Björklund-Sänkiaho, Professor in Energy Technology at Åbo Akademi University in Vaasa, has an idea. 

 

Coffee Break

 

Musikmakarna – Putting Örnsköldsvik on the Musical Map 
How can a small town in Sweden host a songwriting school and create music for world-renowned artists? Listen to Oscar Sundelin to discover the story of Musikmakarna and learn why it makes sense to explore collaborations with Finland. 

 

Panel Discussion on Kvarken, Green Transition, and Collaboration 

How can we attract more green investments, and how can we do it together? 
Roger Holm, CEO at Herrfors AB, Oscar Sundelin at Musikmakarna, Jan Segerstam, Director of Research and Development at University of Vaasa, Anne Temin, Head of Program Management Övik Energi AB, and Ulrica Johansson, Business Developer at Liquid Wind AB.
 
Closing Remarks & Wrap-Up Discussion 

Reflections on key insights and the next steps for cross-border energy collaboration. 

Åsa Fällman, Chairperson of the Steering Committee and Peter Hedman, Project Manager for Bothnia Green Energy.

 

16.00 – 17.00 Informal Snack & Networking 

Take the opportunity to continue the conversations and build new connections.  
A wrap and a beverage will be available for on-site enjoyment or takeaway. 

 

17.15 – 19.00 Bus Transfer for Finnish Participants 

From Örnsköldsvik conference venue to Umeå port and central Umeå. 

 

20.15 – 01.00 Ferry to Vaasa 

Enjoy a late-evening journey to Finland for our Finnish delegates. 

 

 

The event is organized through the project Bothnia Green Energy, which is funded by the EU programme of Interreg Aurora, Jakobstad Region Development Company Concordia, Herrfors, Kokkolan Energia, City of Kokkola, Kvarken Council EGTC, Regional Council of Lapland, Technology Centre Merinova, County Council of Västerbotten, County Council of Västernorrland, Skellefteå Municipality, Skellefteå Kraft, Umeå Energi, Umeå Municipality, Vaasan Sähkö, City of Vaasa, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Övik Energi.

Click here to read more about Bothnia Green Energy!

Click here for more information and registration to the final conference of the project Bothnia Green Energy - Beyond Borders!