Arctic Energy Forerunners

Who are we?

ABB is a pioneering technology leader that works closely with utilities, industry, transportation and infrastructure customers to write the future of industrial digitalization and realize value.

ABO Wind is a globally successful project developer for renewable energies with more than 600 employees. Since 1996, the company has connected around 700 wind energy, solar and biogas plants with an output of 1,500 megawatts to the grid.

Eltel is a leading northern European provider of technical services for power and communication networks.

Empower is a purpose-driven smart society company providing a unique combination of industry-specific services, process delivery tools and intelligent data platforms for the end-to-end realizations of smart society essentials.

GE Renewable Energy harnesses the earth’s most abundant resources – the strength of the wind, the heat of the sun and the force of water; delivering green electrons to power the world’s biggest economies and the most remote communities.

LUT University (Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT) is a pioneering science university in Finland, bringing together the fields of science and business since 1969.

Outokumpu is a global stainless steel manufacturer. Outokumpu is the largest producer of stainless steel in Europe and the second largest producer in the Americas. Outokumpu also has a long history as a mining company, and still mines chromium ore in Keminmaa for use as ferrochrome in stainless steel.

Spinverse is the Nordic leader in innovation consulting, specialised in driving open innovation ecosystems, arranging funding and commercialising emerging technologies.any description

SSAB is a highly-specialized global steel company driven by close relationships with its customers. SSAB develops high-strength steels and provides services for better performance and sustainability.

St1’s vision is to be the leading producer and seller of CO₂-aware energy. St1 focuses on fuels marketing activities, oil refining and renewable energy solutions such as waste-based advanced ethanol fuels and industrial wind power.

Tesi is a venture capital and private equity company that accelerates companies’ success stories by investing in them, both directly and via funds.

Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets.

Wicetec is an independent wind turbine blade ice prevention system and technology supplier. The company is located in Finland, but it operates globally, in Europe, China and North America.

The Global Energy Challenge

The world must replace fossil energy with non-fossil energy. Those with high dependence on fossil energy will struggle while those with access to, and ability to harness non-fossil and clean energy will prosper. This is a challenge, and this is an opportunity.

The Nordic Arctic region has massive renewable energy resources, which can be harvested at cost levels below that of fossil energy. This presents us not only with part of a solution to our energy challenge but also with an unprecedented opportunity.

The Arctic Energy Forerunners is a group of Nordic companies active in the production, transmission or transformation of energy in to the products and services that we use and take for granted in our daily lives. What we share is the challenge inherent in being part of value chains with dependence on fossil energy. We share the view that there is a massive opportunity by leading the transition to a low or no carbon future. More importantly we want to go after this opportunity.

Challenges and opportunities

The Arctic Energy Forerunners will:

  • Develop clean cheap energy resources where they can be found.
  • Develop new forms of cooperation and partnerships to drive the green energy economy.
  • Identify and articulate blockers and suggest where improvements are required.

What we need:

  • Strong and steady political leadership with the ability to prioritize. 
  • Perspective needs to be long term, but action must be immediate. 
  • Nimble institutional framework.
  • License to try.
  • Stronger cross border political cooperation.
  • Faster regulatory processes.

Learn more