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– Yes, some people like to torment themselves, says Gunnar Hovland.
After five years as top manager at Tine, he is thankful for going to one of the largest wind power owners in Norway, Aneo. Behind it are the acquisition fund Hitecvision and Trønderenergi, which will invest NOK 15-20 billion in renewable energy through Aneo.
Conflict with reindeer owners, opponents of wind power, politicians who want to increase taxes awaits the chief executive in Aneo. To mention something.
The most important asset in Aneo is close to a third of the wind farm on Roan, which the owners want to have demolished after the Supreme Court declared that it was illegally built. So far, there are no signs of a resolution to the conflict.
– I worked in the power industry in 2011, when there was a power deficit in central Norway and significantly higher prices than in the rest of the country. In 2022, we had a power surplus and clearly lower prices than further south. It was due to the wind power that has been built in the meantime. If you take away the wind power at Fosen, we are immediately in deficit. Those who have followed the last year, know what happens to the prices then. They go to heaven.
Hovland will not claim that he is sitting on a solution to the Fosen conflict.
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Do the opposite
– I am still the dairy manager. But for all parties, I hope there is a solution that can enable the reindeer owners to run their business and that the wind power at Fosen can produce the power Central Norway needs. This corresponds to the consumption in the whole of Trondheim.
Hovland will not take over Aneo until the New Year, but is more than clear about what he thinks of the government’s measures to achieve his own climate goals.
– Something is very, very strange. We must cut 55 per cent of emissions before 2030. Then the oil industry, which must be reduced if we are to manage the transition, will have better and more predictable framework conditions. For the industry that needs to be built up, they do the opposite, says Hovland and points to both ground rent tax and high price subsidies as obstacles.
But Hovland is an optimist. He hopes and believes that the government will reverse its proposal to increase taxes for wind power.
Not a penny
– Aneo has so far not invested a penny in new wind power in Norway, but is investing in our neighboring countries. What do you think about it?
– Wind power is not being built in Norway today. The reason is the unpredictable tax regime, and these conflicts which have not been resolved. No one will put money into wind power in Norway until these issues are resolved.
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Hovland refers to the UN climate panel which recommends increased development of wind power because it is the cheapest, followed by solar energy. The same is said by the IEA – the International Energy Agency, and the Energy Commission, which presented its report in February.
– Swedes, Finns and Danes have this though, so they have provided better framework conditions. Thus, considerable construction is taking place there.
– Not only reindeer owners, also a large part of the population are negative about wind power. What can be done about it?
– We must learn from all these conflicts that have taken place. Achieve win-win projects. We see certain local communities cheering for wind power, for example in Selbu where there are now plans to consolidate the current wind farm with nine new turbines.
Like in the 40s and 50s
Hovland is a parish from Luster, and refers to the large-scale power development that took place in the area in the 1940s and 50s.
– It laid the foundation for industry in Årdal, Høyanger and Sauda, among others. It created jobs and a basis for living villages. The same applies now.
– At the same time, there is a great shortage of hands and brains that can take jobs in new industry?
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– Yes, it is a challenge in all industries and industries. We cannot create tens of thousands of jobs, but we must ensure that the jobs we have are sustainable. In that case, sufficient renewable energy is the most important thing.
– What triggers you about the job at Aneo?
– The energy transition that must take place is formidable. We are unlikely to reach the target of 55 per cent in 2030. But then we should be able to say that we did everything we could to get as far as possible. The assignment in Aneo is therefore unique and the most exciting job in the Nordic region, with access to capital and expertise that is willing and able. In addition, the location in the technology capital Trondheim with Sintef Energi and NTNU among others, which provides a cluster that can actually make a difference.
Ann-Beth Freuchen will be the new CEO after Hovland, the company announced in a press release on Wednesday. Freucher is currently deputy group manager in Tine. (Terms) Copyright Dagens Næringsliv AS and/or our suppliers. We would like you to share our cases using links, which lead directly to our pages. Copying or other forms of use of all or part of the content may only take place with written permission or as permitted by law. For further terms see here.
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Published: 20.08.23 — 01:58
2023-08-23 09:01:16
#Tine #manager #maligned #industry #strange
