Meet our CEO and Chairperson

*Energy Valley CEO Vibeke Østlyngen and Chairperson Vilde Bjerknes*

You might have noticed there have been a few changes at Energy Valley in the last several months. However, while we announced a shift in CEOs, we haven’t spoken broadly about our new Chairperson of the Board yet. So, we’d like to take the opportunity now to introduce you to our new Chairperson, as well as go a bit more in-depth with our CEO in this interview with the two of them.

In Q3 2025, Vibeke Østlyngen stepped into the role of (interim) CEO after having worked in Energy Valley as the Head of Projects and Administration since 2023. Around the same time, Vilde Bjerknes, who has been a member of the Board for over a year, stepped into the role of Chairperson of the Board.

Now, while it’s human nature to be nervous about change, the latest changes in Energy Valley leadership are not so much massive changes as they are a natural shift with a renewed focus on what the cluster needs to continue to grow and bring additional value to our members.

“For the Energy Valley cluster, I think the role change represents stability and continuity,” confirms Vibeke. “There will be a continuation in the cluster administration, as I have been in Energy Valley since the end of 2023, and worked closely with both the previous CEOs Preben Strøm and Bjørn Ottar Elseth.”

The sentiment was similar from Vilde who said, “I don’t think the change will be jarring, as I will be continuing on much of the work from my predecessors. As Chair of the Board, I have the opportunity to follow the Energy Valley administration closely through Vibeke, and what excites me is the opportunity to support the good work being done among the members and catered for by the Energy Valley team. I truly believe that clusters like Energy Valley play an important role in developing the energy industry, and I look forward to continuing to be a part of it.”

Continuity and collaboration

Having already worked together for some time now, both women see collaboration as one of the key strengths going forward.

“The way I see it, my role is twofold: make sure the Board functions as a place where we can discuss and set a direction for Energy Valley that reflects the needs and expectation of the members,” says Vilde. “In addition, I will support Vibeke in executing the strategy the best I can; I hope to be a valuable sparring partner for her and the team, helping enable Vibeke, together with the administration, in ensuring Energy Valley delivers on the projects and cluster activities from day-to-day.”

“In Energy Valley, we are fortunate to have an active and supporting Board focusing on the future of the cluster, and caring for how we support our members,” confirms Vibeke. “Vilde and I support each other in driving Energy Valley forward – I focus on the operational part and she more so on the strategic side.”

And as Vibeke likes to say, “Cooperation, curiosity, and an open mind will always bring us forward faster.”

What does success look like?

As Vilde points out, the energy business is in the middle of a transformation, presenting both significant opportunities and some challenges for our members.

“Energy Valley has a solid member base and a well-established approach to supporting the members in developing their business accordingly,” she notes. “But funding may be a challenge going forward, and I believe that we must look for extended cooperation and potentially new structures to secure a robust cluster for the future.”

“Success in the cluster is seeing the members and partners being activity involved preparing the energy system for the future,” says Vibeke. “For the cluster administration, that means we are facilitating a good environment for collaboration.”

Part of facilitating that good environment is having a broad understanding of what other organisations in the energy space – and even other nations – are focusing on and continuously developing industry knowledge. Later this month, Vibeke and Vilde are paying a visit to the Danish energy cluster to do exactly that.

“We sometimes work together with Energy Cluster Denmark on projects, such as a cooperation project with Energy Cluster Denmark funded by Viken, and the currently on-going BalticSeaH2 project,” says Vibeke, “and really appreciate the opportunity for knowledge-sharing with them.”

Keeping the members front and centre

No matter who you ask in Energy Valley, the members are always the primary focus for all of us. And if you are a member (or considering becoming one!), we’d like to hear from you.

“To deliver value, we must understand our members’ needs, so I encourage everyone to suggest and promote activities they find valuable. Energy Valley should be defined by its members. The role of both the team and the board is simply to support the community and help it thrive,” concludes Vilde.

Reflections from Oslo Innovation Week

During Oslo Innovation Week, Energy Valley held a two-session event, together with Capgemini. Here are some of the key takeaways…

SESSION I

Building the Future of Talent

What does it really take to build global companies out of Norway — and what kind of leadership and talent will define our next chapter? At our “Building the Future of Talent” session during Oslo Innovation Week, Energy Valley’s Preben Strøm explored these questions together with John Markus Lervik (Cognite), Snorre Valdimarsson (Thommessen) and two outstanding Future Energy Leaders — Shipra Mohan and Bielenis Villanueva Triana.

Discussion on what it takes to be successful in the drive for talent

A few takeaways stood out:

💡 “The combination of grit and deep domain competence is crucial for success when building a global tech company.”

John Markus Lervik, reminding us that endurance and expertise matter more than hype – and that life balance, not work/life balance, is what truly counts.

💡 “We should nurture and support business talents the same way we do with sports talents.”

Norway needs to get better at identifying and investing early in people who can scale ideas globally.

💡 “The best and most efficient employees are women with small kids.”

Snorre Valdimarsson highlighted that diversity is not just fair, it’s efficient – and that inclusion is a competitive advantage.

💡 “Norway is a great country to live in – and to build your career.”

As one of our Future Energy Leaders put it.

Panel discussion: Building the Future of Talents

At the core of the discussion was a shared belief:
👉 Talent is Norway’s most important resource, but how we develop, empower and trust that talent will determine whether we stay a local success story or become a truly global one.

SESSION II

The Power of Energy Efficiency in Industry Innovation

Alexander Glowacki (Senior Lead Strategist & People Manager, Strategy, Design & AI, frog, part of Capgemini Invent) had some key takeaways from the second session of the day. Here’s what he had to say…

Most people agree that great collaboration drives innovation. Yet, establishing valuable partnerships remains a challenge.

During Oslo Innovation Week, we tackled this topic through an intimate workshop on energy efficiency collaboration. Together with Simoen Moxnes from Equinor and Gina Arnestad from Statnett, we identified real barriers and actionable solutions for founder-corporate partnerships.

Equinor: the energy transition IS happening!

Three key barriers

Speed mismatch:
Startups need to move fast to survive. Industry majors need time to navigate complex decision-making. This creates friction.

Navigation complexity:
The sheer size of corporations makes it difficult for younger companies to identify the right entry points for partnerships.

Communication gaps:
Misaligned language and expectations create friction. What startups call “partnership” might mean something entirely different to a corporate.

The good news…

Don’t worry, in spite of the barriers, it’s not all doom and gloom! Progress IS happening! Equinor is engaging with Innovation Dock and StartupLab. Statnett has built a portal for partnership submissions.

But we need continued dialogue to bridge the existing gaps.

Here’s a perspective shift: innovation in energy efficiency isn’t new. In the early 1900s, whale oil dominated lighting before kerosene took over. Today, LED technology reigns supreme.

So, here’s a question for us all to contemplate: What will be the “whale oil” of our time? What seems essential today but will be obsolete in 20 years?

Tomorrow Show 2025: AI and Collaboration at the Core

*Preben Strøm onstage at Tomorrow Show 2025*

On Thursday, September 25, Tomorrow Show 2025 brought together leading figures in digitalization, energy, and technology at The Hub. The conference focused on how artificial intelligence, data, and cross-industry collaboration are driving new business models, transforming work processes, and influencing geopolitics and security.

Energy Valley’s CCO, Preben Strøm, gave a presentation on behalf of the cluster, delivering a clear message about the importance of collaboration across value chains. He emphasized the need to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through skills development and partnerships, enabling them to play an active role in the digital and green transition. His presentation was well received and positioned Energy Valley as a key voice in the discussion on how Norwegian players can become part of a global digital ecosystem.

Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley’s EU advisor and project manager for the AI Energy Cluster, was also in attendance and took the opportunity to follow the presentations on stage and network with key representatives from business, technology, and research communities.

AI Energy Cluster: Energy Valley’s AI Initiative

Alongside participation in the conference, Energy Valley is actively working to further develop the AI Energy Cluster—an initiative that brings together energy companies, tech firms, R&D actors, and SMEs in a joint effort to integrate artificial intelligence into the energy system.

The goals:

Create a structured collaboration platform for AI in the energy sector
Build expertise and practical case studies through webinars, workshops, and professional gatherings
Identify concrete project opportunities and connect them to national and international funding schemes
Position Norwegian players in larger European initiatives, such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe

Currently, we are working with our partners to chart the path forward, with a clear ambition to strengthen collaboration and build an AI and energy ecosystem that delivers tangible results and new opportunities for our members.

The road ahead

Tomorrow Show 2025 clearly demonstrated that AI, data, and digitalization are no longer add-ons—they are the foundation for future value creation, security, and competitiveness. For Energy Valley, this is a strong confirmation that we are on the right track with the AI Energy Cluster—and that collaboration between major players, SMEs, and research communities is the key to unlocking its potential.

Want to get involved?

If you’re interested in joining Energy Valley’s AI Energy Cluster or want more information, reach out to Knut Linnerud (email) or (mobile: +47 922 25 432).

Join us in nominating Bærum’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2025!

Nominate your candidate for Bærum’s Entrepreneur of the Year, and help shine a spotlight on those building the business landscape of tomorrow.

Energy Valley is part of the jury for “Årets gründer i Bærum 2025” (Entrepreneur of the Year 2025) for Bærum Næringsråd and we’d like your input. Do you have any candidates in mind for nomination?

The prize, which will be presented on 20 November, is awarded to companies that stand out for their innovation, drive, and commitment to sustainability. It honours entrepreneurs who have established themselves in Bærum within the past five years. Entrepreneurs are hardworking and courageous individuals with a product or idea they believe in—contributing to innovation and value creation.

If you know someone who deserves to be celebrated, we’d love to hear from you as soon as possible. Please send all nominations to Vibeke Østlyngen no later than 27 October (so we have time to pass those nominations on!)

To learn more about the criteria, take a look at the article (in Norwegian) on Bærum Næringsråd’s website.

Recap: New Energy Women in Stavanger

The event was focused on “Hydrogen: From ambition to reality” and was aimed at expanding professional networks within the hydrogen space as well as building on NEW members’ understanding of the green hydrogen opportunities and challenges, technology, and value chain.

CEO Vibeke Østlyngen was in attendance and had this to say about it:

It was a powerful afternoon at Worley Rosenberg last week when 80+ women gathered to discuss the green hydrogen opportunities and challenges, technology and value chain.

Main takeaways:

We need common policies and regulations to standardise
The European hydrogen market is growing — slowly but steadily
Cost must come down, and it must be more expensive to pollute – CO2 pricing will be a gamechanger

Special thanks to Oriana Duran and Worley Rosenberg for hosting the event and to the NEW initiative for organizing, together with Women in Green Hydrogen.

➡️ The New Energy Women (NEW) initiative is a cooperation between ABB and some of the energy clusters in Norway: H2Cluster, Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster, Energy Valley, and Fornybar Norge.

Additional takeaways

H2Cluster also took part in the event and had these key points:

🔺 Trust among stakeholders is critical to mature projects.

🔺 Concerns around the slow pace of project development in Europe.

🔺 Global momentum is strong: Brazil, Australia, North Africa, China, and the Middle East are moving fast.

🔺 Chinese electrolyzer OEMs offering CAPEX benefits that may outweigh European subsidies.

Want to get involved?

Stay tuned for the next New Energy Women gathering coming up as we will visit Rystad Energy in Oslo.

Recap in pictures

Did you miss the event? Here are a few of our favourite pictures from the event:

Arendalsuka 2025 recap

*Event participants ahead of the two panel discussions*

Together with Capgemini, Energy Valley was proud to host an event focused on the electricity crisis and its impact on industry at this year’s Arendalsuka.

The problem: Norway’s electricity grid doesn’t have the capacity to meet the demand from new industries, electrification, and the green transition. This is resulting in delayed investments, high prices, and — in the worst cases — power outages.

Multiple reports (including Riksrevisjonen’s “Kapasiteten i strømnettet“) have confirmed: we need more capacity, a better grid, and smarter solutions. But how do we get there?

The hour-long event was split into two panels and took a look at the situation surrounding Norway’s power system, tackling topics such as:

What the authorities are doing to ensure sufficient grid capacity
Whether digital control, local production, and battery technology can give industry greater flexibility
Whether small, modular reactors are part of the solution… or merely a distraction
How software, data, and AI can be used to optimize energy usage

During the lively event, participants delved into what was more than just a debate. It was a conversation about the future of Norwegian industry, technology, and green growth.

Key takeaways

Energy Valley’s Knut Linnerud wrapped up the event with a summary of some of the key points made:

Firstly, the session clearly demonstrated that the challenges in the power system are significant… but they are NOT insurmountable and the solutions are already well known.
Yara emphasized that expanding the grid is absolutely crucial for continued industrial development.
At the same time, Morrow highlighted how battery technology can contribute to power balance and flexibility within the system.
A key starting point for Norway is that we already possess a form of “battery capacity” through our water reservoirs, which is equivalent to millions of car batteries. This gives us a unique opportunity to further balance power in collaboration with Europe, ensuring more stability and affordable access to electricity.
Effective power balancing is the key to succeeding in the transition to renewable energy and securing sufficient electricity. Everything is interconnected (as Gro Harlem Brundtland notably said in the context of climate challenges) and the ability to execute is critical.
Coordinated, concrete plans and actions are required between industry, the energy sector, and government.

We’d like to issue a big THANK YOU to all who participated in the event and those who came out to watch it live. If you missed the event (or would like a reminder of it) take a look at the slideshow below.

Participants

Gry Helene Pettersen – Vice President, Capgemini Invent

Annette Gohn-Hellum – Ekspedisjonssjef, Riksrevisjonen

Anne Sagstuen Nysæther – Administrerende direktør, Elvia

Morrow Batteries – Lars Christian Backer, Administrerende direktør, Morrow Batteries

Inga Nordberg – Direktør Energi og konsesjon, NVE

Ole-Jakob Siljan – VP and Head of Yara Technology center and Yara Porsgrunn, Yara International

John Olav Tande – SVP R&D and Innovation, Statnett

Lene Westgaard-Halle – Stortingsrepresentant, Høyre

Sigurd Rafaelsen – Stortingsrepresentant, Ap

Knut Linnerud – EU Advisor, Energy Valley

Recap in pictures

Did you miss the event? Check out our slideshow:

Recap from the 2025 Industry-Science Meetup

*Energy Valley CEO Bjørn Ottar Elseth sets the stage*

Energy Valley was proud to host its Industry-Science Meetup together with SINTEF and the University of Oslo.

The half-day event offered short, engaging talks showcasing cutting-edge research, industrial technology projects, and successful partnerships between academia and business.

Agenda

13:30 Registration and mingling

Welcome to Industry Science Meetup 2025

UIO // Advanced biogas-to-methanol electrocatalysis by Petra Agota Szilagyi

Wind Catching System // Developing Scalable Offshore Wind capacity by Daniel Engelhart-Willoch

SINTEF // Fiber Optics in Geosciences by Marcin Duda

DNV // Industrial AI: Assurance, Risks, and Opportunities for the Energy Sector by Carla Ferreira

UIO // Hydrogen – New Challenges and Emerging Debates by Xi Yang

15:30 Coffee & Mingling

Hystar // Hypilot – Ultraefficient green hydrogen production by Eddy Van Oort

SINTEF // Endpoint AI – some hardware-platforms to consider by Benedikt Andreas Mithassel

UIO // Numerical and physical wave tanks by Atle Jensen

17:00 Finish

Did you miss the event? Take a look at some pictures from the day in our slideshow on LinkedIn!

Tilskudd til forskning og innovasjon i bedrift

Små og mellomstore bedrifter i Akershus kan nå søke om tilskudd for å bruke forskning i utviklingen av nye produkter og løsninger. Målet med ordningen er å styrke innovasjonsevnen og konkurransekraften i næringslivet gjennom støtte til forsknings- og innovasjonsprosjekter.

Hvem kan søke?

Ordningen er åpen for små og mellomstore bedrifter organisert som aksjeselskaper, samt foretak registrert i Enhetsregisteret som driver jordbruksproduksjon. Bedriften må ha lønnede ansatte både på søknadstidspunktet og i prosjektfasen, samt være registrert med forretningsadresse i Akershus.

Hva kan dere få støtte til?

Tilskuddet kan dekke inntil 50 % av de totale prosjektkostnadene for forsknings- og innovasjonsprosjekter. En forutsetning er samarbeid med en godkjent forskningsinstitusjon, og forskningen må utgjøre en nødvendig del av prosjektet. Dette må gjenspeiles i budsjettet.

Hvor mye støtte kan dere få?

Bedrifter kan søke om inntil 750 000 kroner per prosjekt. Prosjektperioden kan være opptil ett år. Totalt er det satt av 10 millioner kroner til ordningen i 2025.

Viktige frister

Det er to søknadsfrister i 2025: 2. mai og 1. november. Dersom det gjenstår midler, vil det være mulig å søke på nytt senere samme år.

Hvordan søker dere?

Søknad sendes via regionalforvaltning.no. Før dere søker, er det viktig å lese retningslinjene som gir utfyllende informasjon om søknadskriterier og vurderingsprosessen.

Behandling og utbetaling

Søknader behandles innen én til to måneder. Søkere som får innvilget tilskudd, må returnere akseptbrev og kan deretter be om utbetaling gjennom regionalforvaltning.no.

Hvorfor deler Energy Valley denne informasjonen?

Energy Valley arbeider for å styrke innovasjon og samarbeid i energisektoren. Dette tilskuddet gir bedrifter en unik mulighet til å finansiere forskningsbaserte utviklingsprosjekter, noe som er avgjørende for økt verdiskaping og konkurransekraft.

Energy Valley is looking for a Communication Advisor

Do you have a deep passion for communication and want to work at the intersection of energy, innovation, and sustainability?

Energy Valley is looking for a Communication Advisor to help us share impactful stories, engage our network, and drive the energy transition forward.

Apply today

Key responsibilities:

Plan and execute operative communication including production of content for our digital platforms, including websites, social media, and newsletters.
Be responsible for the Energy Valley brands.
Write and edit presentations material, speeches, press releases, articles and other content.
Handle media inquiries and build relationships with journalists.
Support communication, outreach and mobilization for our projects.
Contribute to video and image content for marketing and information purposes.
Assist with production of content and marketing for our events.
Act as Account Manager for selected members and contribute to Energy Valley’s overall efforts.
Work closely with our members and partners.

Qualifications & skills:

Minimum 3 years’ experience from a similar role.
Preferably a bachelor’s degree in communication, media or journalism.
Fluent in both written and spoken Norwegian and English.
Experienced with social media, especially LinkedIn.
Keen eye for detail and ability to convey complex messages in a simple and understandable manner.
Can work independently and as part of a team.
Creative, solution-oriented, and with a proactive approach.
High work capacity with the ability to prioritize and execute tasks effectively.
Knowledge and engagement in the energy industry will be emphasized.

What we offer:

A dynamic and innovative work environment at the heart of Norway’s energy transformation.
The opportunity to work closely with some of the most exciting energy companies in Norway.
A diverse role with the chance to engage with industry, authorities, academia, and other key stakeholders in the energy sector.
Competitive salary and benefits.

For any questions regarding Energy Valley or the position, please contact Bjørn Ottar Elseth, bjorn.elseth@energyvalley.com / +47 905 74 985 or Vibeke Østlyngen, vibeke.ostlyngen@energyvalley.com / +47 911 211 61.

Application deadline: 24 February 2025.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

About Energy Valley

Energy Valley is a prominent cluster organization and Norwegian Centre of Expertise (NCE) in Energy Technology. We unify approximately 125 member companies and partners within the greater capital region of Norway, advocating for the energy transition and digitalization of the energy industry. By facilitating infrastructure, collaboration, innovation, knowledge transfer, and new insights, Energy Valley enables its members to adapt, benefit from, and contribute towards a sustainable energy transition. Energy Valley is also representing the national member committee for the World Energy Council Norway. Discover more about our impactful work at www.energyvalley.com

AIREL Takes the Stage: Innovating Forestry Management for Norway’s Grid Companies

*Frøydis Arntzen Dale, Design Manager at AIREL. Photo: Helena Jensby*

This October, Energy Valley sat down with Frøydis Arntzen Dale, Design Manager at AIREL, to discuss their cutting-edge approach to forestry management for grid companies and their opportunity to present at Energirampen’s Pitch Night during the energy industry´s IT conference, “Teknologioptimistene.”

The story of AIREL

“AIREL?” Many first-time listeners struggle with the pronunciation (it’s Air-el), but the name is intentional: AIREL stands for AI, Air, Relations, and Electricity. The company combines these four pillars to provide digital solutions to long-standing challenges in forestry management and energy infrastructure.

As Frøydis explains, AIREL´s founder, Magne Kaspersen, saw first-hand the inefficiencies in grid management when working at Norgesnett in 2019. “With a unique combination of forestry and IT expertise, he spotted areas for improvement that others overlooked, and that’s how AIREL was born,” she shares.

AIREL is set on transforming forest clearing along power lines, estimating an impressive 56 million NOK in savings for their first customer, Norgesnett.

*Revolutionizing forest clearing along power lines, AIREL´s Frøydis Arntzen Dale highlights how automation and digitalization can unlock massive savings and boost efficiency. Photo: Agnes Etienne.*

What is AIREL´s edge?

“We combine forestry expertise with tech savvy, which is rare. Magne is both a forester and a developer, and that’s why we can bridge the knowledge gap that often exists between these two fields,” Frøydis explains.

“Grid companies could attempt what we’re doing, but having expertise under one roof means we’re a few steps ahead, especially with five years of field testing.”

This industry experience allows AIREL to optimize processes and automate areas of grid management that others hesitate to tackle.

“It is a topic that many may find a bit unsexy. There’s this whole part of the grid that a lot of people don’t want to touch – but there’s a lot to fix there!” Frøydis says with a smile.

“The sector is ripe for digitalization, and there’s a lot of savings to be made through automation and AI,” she adds.

Pitching in front of Norway’s energy IT decision-makers

Through our partnership with Energirampen, Energy Valley worked closely with Nicolai Kirkeng Vennerød, founder of Energirampen, to select three startups to pitch in front of 450 people at the energy industry´s IT conference. Our Head of Innovation and Ecosystem was invited to introduce Frøydis Arntzen Dale on stage.

*Energy Valley’s Head of Innovation, Ola Jacobsen, introduces AIREL´s Frøydis Arntzen Dale at the energy industry´s IT conference. Photo: Agnes Etienne*.

Just hours before the event, Frøydis reflected on the aim of their pitch: “We’re not trying to win over investors; we’re looking for partners and customers. The secret to a good pitch is to tailor the message and maybe even provoke a little. You want to grab attention, but in a way that shows we’re bringing something different,” Frøydis shares.

“It’s not influencer-style provoking,” she laughs. “But more about daring to ask the real questions that matter.”

“In a tough competition with a lot of impressive companies, Frøydis and AIREL early stood out as a favorite with their well-thought-out pitch, clear value proposition, and exciting team! It was a true pleasure to introduce AIREL on stage in front of 450 potential stakeholders,” Ola shared after the event.

Looking to the future

For AIREL, digitalization, AI, and security are front and center in their vision. “AI, LiDAR data, and smart data models drive our approach, and it’s great to see that this shift in focus is a priority at this year’s conference,” Frøydis concludes.

Learn more about Airel

Meet our CEO and Chairperson

Continuity and collaboration

What does success look like?

Keeping the members front and centre

Reflections from Oslo Innovation Week

Tomorrow Show 2025: AI and Collaboration at the Core

Join us in nominating Bærum's Entrepreneur of the Year 2025!

Reflections from Oslo Innovation Week

SESSION I

SESSION II

Three key barriers

The good news…