Three Years of Cross-Border Energy Company Cooperation – Bothnia Green Energy Reaches the Finish Line
After three intensive years, the Interreg Aurora project Bothnia Green Energy is now coming to an end. Six energy companies from Sweden and Finland – Övik Energi, Umeå Energi, Skellefteå Kraft, Kokkolan Energia, Herrfors, and Vaasan Sähkö – have come together to strengthen the region’s energy system and future competitiveness. The project has been unique in its approach, bringing together stakeholders across national borders to jointly address the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.
Two Levels of Energy Company Collaboration
Collaboration among the energy companies within the project has taken place on two levels. Firstly, an energy company group has met three to four times a year to work more operationally on the project’s pilot initiatives, share experiences, and develop joint solutions. Secondly, the CEOs of the six companies have convened in a special energy working committee, established under the Kvarken Council in spring 2024, where strategic issues and long-term collaborations have been discussed. This structure has enabled both practical exchange and strategic cooperation, giving the project a wide foundation among the Kvarken region’s energy companies.
Shared Challenges and Opportunities
A central theme of Bothnia Green Energy has been to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and create a unified voice on energy matters within the Kvarken region. The companies have shared knowledge, identified common challenges, and built networks that extend across national borders.
“Since the majority of our population, decision-makers, and businesses are located in the southern part of Sweden, it is harder for us in the north to make ourselves heard nationally. As it is difficult to raise our issues, it is better to join forces for greater impact. Given the geopolitical situation, and our similar challenges and opportunities with the green transition, it feels natural to work in an east-west direction. We have shared strengths and conditions that can lead to better energy security and increased competitiveness, while also solving climate challenges and strengthening our robustness and resilience,” says Joachim Nordin, CEO of Skellefteå Kraft.
Cross-border cooperation in the energy sector is also important for the competitiveness of export companies on world markets and, ultimately, for the welfare of our countries.
“By producing affordable electricity, the energy sector supports the region’s export industry, which competes internationally. We, the energy companies here in the Kvarken region, are, globally speaking, small players, so it is important that we pool our resources and cooperate to better serve and ensure that our customers remain competitive internationally. Gathering expertise and capital is a way for us to manage risks, which enables greater investments in our region,” says Kirsi Hautala, CEO of Kokkolan Energia.
Networks and Knowledge Exchange
A tangible result of Bothnia Green Energy is the new networks that have emerged. Thanks to regular meetings and exchanges of experience, some companies have even been inspired to pursue new technical solutions and investments.
“We have everything to gain by cooperating and finding new partnerships with others. Our expectations for the project were high, and they have been met with the network we now have today. We have had an exchange of experiences and knowledge both on the HR and technical side, and we have learned how others work. Both our municipality and group can benefit from this cooperation with other energy companies across national borders,” says Roland Nordin, CEO of Övik Energi.
Nordin also reports that the experiences from the project have led to an investment decision of 110 million Swedish kronor for a new electric steam boiler – a clear example of how the collaboration has delivered concrete results.
The project has also contributed to a broader systemic perspective on energy issues. By comparing different solutions and discussing future challenges, the companies have gained new insights into how the energy system can be developed.
“Previously, it was more common to view, for example, wind power, hydropower, and other production resources as separate entities, but in a market like this with many uncertainties, you do not know what the next five years will look like. As the market and needs can change quickly, it is important to look at it as a whole and at one’s own asset portfolio from a broader perspective. I believe this project has highlighted the importance of system thinking in its various forms for all of us,” says Stefan Damlin, CEO of Vaasan Sähkö.
Personal Relationships and Optimism for the Future
In addition to technical and strategic insights, the project has had great significance for the personal relationships between the companies. These contacts are seen as an investment for the future.
“The most valuable part of the project is the new contacts. Those who have been actively involved from our side are Michaela Dahlsten in HR and Victor Wistbacka in development. They have established personal relationships with their counterparts in the other companies. The greatest benefit of this is probably yet to be seen and will emerge in the future,” says Roger Holm, CEO of Herrfors.
The collaboration has been characterized by openness, respect, and a willingness to learn from one another. Similarities in challenges and working methods have been highlighted, and differences have enriched the collaboration rather than created obstacles.
“Personally, it is now easier for me to see the value of east-west cooperation. I now believe that cross-border collaboration is even a necessity for long-term success. Going forward, however, it is important that we do not just ‘talk hot air’ – there must be concrete value in the cooperation we pursue. In the next step, we need to move towards even more concrete and thematic collaborations at a deeper level,” says Jan Ridfeldt, CEO of Umeå Energi.
Continued Exchange
The Bothnia Green Energy project has provided the energy companies in the Kvarken region new networks, increased understanding of shared challenges, and laid the foundation for future cooperation. There is still much to be done together – both for the region’s and Europe’s energy future. The energy companies will therefore continue to meet even after the project concludes, both at the strategic level within the energy working committee and more operationally within the energy company group.
Text: Sarah Väre, Kvarken Council