Swedish energy company Ellevio has acquired a Markbygden Net Vast, an electricity network company set up by Enercon to connect up wind farms within a cluster in Sweden’s Pitea region.
The deal is the next step in Ellevio’s investment to establish itself in the region and follows last year’s acquisition of its sister network Markbygden Net, which connects the 3.4GW wind power cluster Markbygden 1101.
Enercon’s regional manager for Central and Northern Europe, Benjamin Seifert, said: “Installation and operation of grid infrastructure is not ENERCON’s core business, and this sale is in line with the strategy we communicated already when we started the development of wind farms in the region more than a decade ago.
“Our ambition has been to secure the continued expansion by handing over to a reliable and experienced electricity network operator.
“With Ellevio, all current and potential customers get a well-established, strong and knowledgeable partner who will ensure the best possible performance for Markbygden Net Väst.”
Johan Lindehag, CEO of Ellevio, added: “We believe in the importance of wind farms and the region in the Swedish energy transition, and by acquiring Markbygden Net Väst, we want to contribute to the growth of the green economy in both the Piteå region and Sweden.”
Ellevio is one of Sweden’s largest energy companies, with approximately one million electricity grid customers in central Sweden and a growing portfolio of energy services, battery storage and solutions for a transforming energy market.
Ellevio has been working for a long time to enable the connection of more wind and solar farms in its own electricity grid areas in central Sweden.
“The investment in Markbygden Net last year was not an isolated incident. With the new acquisition, we are taking further steps in the further development of distribution networks that pave the way for both electricity production and other industries,” said Lindehag.
Unlike Markbygden Net, which Ellevio acquired in 2023, the infrastructure in Markbygden Net Vast has not been completed.
This creates greater opportunities to dimension and adapt the grid to future needs and thus support regional electrification and the emergence of green industries.
Through its economies of scale, resources and expertise in procurement and project management, Ellevio can assist with important capabilities that will benefit future customers.
“Within 20 years, Sweden is expected to need twice as much electricity as today. After the announcement that many planned offshore wind farms are being stopped, onshore wind power clusters such as Markbygden 1101 will be crucial.
“We will work actively with our customers to enable the grid needed for them to be able to quickly and safely complete their wind farms,” said Lindehag.