About us
Founded in 2020, Solgrid aims to become a leading Nordic producer of solar energy.
In cooperation with power producers, public authorities and grid operators, we develop, build, operate and own industrial scale solar power plants.
Solgrid has a project portfolio of more than 1500 MW in Norway and Sweden in different stages. The construction of our first plant finished in 2021.
Together we will accelerate the transition to clean energy based on sustainable solutions.
Team
Our team and owners have a long track record from the Nordic and international energy and solar power industry.
Kristin Melsnes
kristin@solgrid.no
+47 952 95 342
MSc from NTH/NTNU with More than 20 years of executive experience within the power and renewable energy industry as well as start-ups and consultancy.
Former Group Manager of Stange Energi AS and CEO of Elverum Energi Nett and Deputy Manager Elverum Energi AS.
Long track record as board member of various companies such as Stena Renewable AB, Melbye Scandinavia, Nordkraft AS (CoB), Østerdalen Kraftproduksjon AS.
Bjørn I. Bjørnnes
bjorn@solgrid.no
+47 934 49 916
Bjørn has 13 years of experience in the solar energy industry in development and construction of large-scale solar projects, both as a project manager, COO and CFO.
Co-founder of Norsk Solkraft AS (2005), Mypower (2017), Switchr (2018) and Solgrid (2020).
Graduated from BI Norwegian Business School with experience in financial management, business consulting and software development.
Eddie Bastiansen
eddie@solgrid.no
+47 916 872 66
Master in Audting and Accounting from NHH (Norwegian School of Economics, in Bergen) and holds a Bachelor in Auditing from BI (Norwegian Business School, in Oslo).
Has more than 25 years experience as a financial business leader. From KPMG, Rosings Industrier, SCAN Geophysical, Lindab and Betonmast/BetonmastHæhre.
For the last nine years Eddie has been the Financial Director/CFO for the construction group BetonmastHæhre.
Michael Bucat
michael@solgrid.no
+47 928 933 32
Engineering experience since 2001 in the oil and gas industry. Extensive experience in EPCI projects. Eleven years in Australia working on greenfield and brownfield onshore and offshore processing plants, as well as gas transmission facilities. A further 8.5 years working in Norway in the subsea industry.
Engineering degree from The University of Western Australia. Recognizing the future of energy supply, moved to the solar industry in 2021.
Henning Leifsen
henning@solgrid.no
+47 45 40 12 72
MSc from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Master’s Degree in mechanical engineering with extended education in electrical engineering, focusing on renewable energy.
More than 13 years of experience as Project Manager and Principal Engineer for Norconsult AS, covering a wide range of projects and disciplines within the construction industry and the oil & gas industry.
Martin Andersen
martin@solgrid.no
+47 476 48 865
MSc from Norwegian university of life sciences (NMBU) in environmental physics and renewable energy. Two years at HAW Hamburg in Germany focussing on solar energy and PV. PhD in large scale solar heating from Chalmers university of technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Worked as an independent consultant since 2014 with experience in development and construction of solar energy systems for commercial actors. Involved as project leader in building of solar parks for industrial actors. Broad competence in solar energy conversion with focus on technical aspects.
Olaf Hans Ruud
olaf@solgrid.no
+47 474 84 049
Olaf Hans has a Master in Business with a specialization in innovation and entrepreneurship. He likes to explore the possibilities in the interface between solar power and industry. He sees opportunities where others see limitations. Olaf Hans is always seeking a "win-win" situation for the landowner and the company.
Tor Slettbakken
Tor has extensive experience in the energy market – risk management, trading of commodity derivatives and green certificates. He has held management positions at Akershus Energi, NOREXECO ASA, MyGreenCertificate and Switchr. Graduated from Norwegian Business School in Oslo and from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
Majken Smith
majken@solgrid.no
+47 954 83 577
Majken studerer INDØK på NMBU og jobber hos Solgrid i deltidsstilling som prosjektutvikler.
Edwin Cunow
Edwin has been an independent consultant, exclusively and successfully engaged with many large scale projects. He has nearly 30 years of experience in PV with more than 300 MWp designed and installed around the globe. He is one of the world’s few pioneers in the solar industry. From 1986 till the end of 2005, he has been in charge of several leading positions within the PV business. Since 1996, he served as sole Project Manager, responsible for all Megawatt ventures of Siemens Solar and Shell Solar.
Board members
Thorvald Steen
thorvald@solgrid.no
+47 952 95 342
Thorvald is working as a business advisor. He is graduated from Royal Norwegian Naval Academy and has more than 30 years of experience from industry and finance.
He worked for almost ten years in Norsk Hydro, before establishing VentureLab AS, which for ten years assisted start-up companies with fundraising. The last ten years he has worked with corporate finance, mainly equity and bond financing aimed at SMEs.
Thorvald has experience from CEO positions and as board member from various industries.
Astri England Garshol
Astri England Garshol works as CFO in Akershus Energi and is responsible for the department of finance, risk and compliance. She holds a Master of Science in Business degree from the Norwegian Business School (BI).
Garshol is a board member in several of the companies Akershus Energi holds an ownership stake in, among others within wind power and district heating along with an external board position within finance. She previously worked 15 years in the communications industry, both nationally and internationally.
Martin Vatne
Martin Vatne is the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development in Østfold Energi. He has a MSc in Computer Science and Innovation from NTNU and 15 years’ experience from management consulting.
Vatne is a board member in several startups related to Greentech and Renewables and is an expert on strategy execution, business development, growth and operational excellence.
Prior to joining Østfold Energi Vatne was leading 90 consultants across 4 countries and a part of the EMEIA management team in EY.
Siri Revelsby
Siri Revelsby is the Executive Vice President of Business Development, Solarpower and Digitalization in Akershus Energi. She holds a MSc in mechanical engineering from NTNU and more than 25 years experience from the energy sector.
Revelsby has long experience in development, construction and operation of power assets and power systems from Norsk Hydro and Statnett. She has also international experience as SVP for risk management consulting in LR Energy. Revelsby is board member in other companies Akershus Energi holds an ownership stake in within sun energy.
Trine I. Berg
Trine I. Berg is Finance Director / CFO in Østfold Energi with responsibility for Finance, Risk and Corporate Governance. She helds a Master of Management with specializtion in tax and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from BI Norwegian Business School
Berg has long and solid experience as CFO in international corporations such as Saint-Gobain and Eurofins. She is also boardmember in other
subsidiaries and associated companies in Østfold Energi
Lars G. Dysterud Hansen
First mover and serial solar energy entrepreneur since 2004.
Founder of Norsk Solkraft (2005) and established foothold from the very infancy of the solar industry in Italy. Founded AEGA Solar (2013)-listed on Oslo Stock Exchange, Mypower AS (2017) and Switchr AS (2018).
Experience from PV projects (development, construction and operations) in Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Norway and Sweden.
Kristin Melsnes
CEO
kristin@solgrid.no
+47 952 95 342
MSc fra NTH / NTNU med mer enn 20 års ledererfaring innen energi og fornybar energi-industri samt oppstart og rådgivning .
Tidligere konsernsjef i Stange Energi AS og administrerende direktør og Elverum Energi Nett og nestleder Elverum Energi AS.
Lang erfaring som styremedlem i forskjellige selskaper som Stena Renewable AB, Melbye Scandinavia, Nordkraft AS (CoB), Østerdalen Kraftproduksjon AS.
Lars G. Dysterud Hansen
Head of Development/ Founder
lars@solgrid.no
+47 974 03 702
First mover og solenergi seriegründer siden 2004.
Grunnlegger av Norsk Solkraft (2005) og etablerte virksomheter i tidlig fase av solenergiindustriens utviking i Italia. Stiftet AEGA Solar (2013), notert på Oslo Børs, Mypower AS (2017) og Switchr AS (2018).
Erfaring fra solcelleprosjekter (utvikling, bygging og drift) i Italia, Tyskland, Bulgaria, Norge og Sverige.
Bjørn I. Bjørnnes
COO/Founder
bjorn@solgrid.no
+47 934 49 916
Mangeårige erfaring fra solenergibransjen innen utvikling og bygging av storskala solprosjekter i Europa, både som prosjektleder, COO og CFO. Medgründer av Norsk Solkraft AS (2005), Mypower (2017), Switchr (2018) og Solgrid (2020).
Utdannet fra Handelshøyskolen BI med erfaring innen økonomistyring, bedriftsrådgivning og programvareutvikling.
Eddie Bastiansen
CFO
eddie@solgrid.no
+47 916 872 66
Master i revisjon og regnskap fra NHH (Norges Handelshøyskole, i Bergen) og har en bachelor i revisjon fra BI (Handelshøyskolen BI, i Oslo).
Har mer enn 25 års erfaring som økonomi- og finansielleder. Fra KPMG, Rosings Industrier, SCAN Geophysical, Lindab og Betonmast/BetonmastHæhre.
De siste ni årene har Eddie vært CFO/Finansdirektør for entreprenør- og eiendomskonsernet BetonmastHæhre.
Edwin Cunow
Consultant
Edwin har vært en uavhengig konsulent, eksklusivt og vellykket engasjert i mange store prosjekter. Han har nesten 30 års erfaring i PV med mer enn 300 MWp designet og installert over hele verden. Han er en av verdens få pionerer innen solindustrien.
Fra 1986 til slutten av 2005 har han hatt ansvaret for flere ledende stillinger innen PV-virksomheten. Siden 1996 fungerte han som eneste prosjektleder, ansvarlig for alle Megawatt-satsinger fra Siemens Solar og Shell Solar.
Michael Bucat
Prosjektleder
michael@solgrid.no
+47 928 933 32
Ingeniørerfaring siden 2001 i olje- og gassindustrien. Omfattende erfaring i EPCI-prosjekter.
Elleve år i Australia jobbet med greenfield og brownfield prosessanlegg på land og offshore, samt gassoverføringsanlegg.
Ytterligere 8,5 år i Norge i subseaindustrien.
Ingeniørutdannelse fra University of Western Australia.
Anerkjenner fremtiden for energiforsyning, flyttet til solindustrien i 2021
Henning Leifsen
Prosjektleder
henning@solgrid.no
+47 45 40 12 72
MSc fra Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet (NTNU). Mastergrad i maskinteknikk med tilleggsfag innen elektroteknikk. Fokus på fornybar energi.
Mer enn 13 års erfaring som prosjektleder og fagansvarlig ingeniør for Norconsult AS, som omfatter et stort spenn av prosjekter og fagdisipliner innen bygge- og anleggsbransjen, samt olje og gassbransjen.
Thorvald Steen
Chairman of the Board
thorvald@solgrid.no
+47 934 21 940
Thorvald arbeider i dag som bedriftsrådgiver. Han er uteksaminert fra Sjøkrigsskolen og harmer enn 30 års erfaring fra industri og finans etter at han sluttet i Sjørsvaret.
Han jobbet nesten ti år i Norsk Hydro, blant annet innen olje og gass divisjonen, før han etablerte VentureLab AS hvor han i mer enn ti år bisto gründere med tidligfase kapital. Senere har han arbeidet med både egenkapital- og obligasjonsfinansiering rettet mot og mellomstore virksomheter.
Thorvald har erfaring som daglig leder i flere vekstbedrifter og som styremedlem i ulike virksomheter.
Martin Vatne
Board member
Martin Vatne er direktør for strategi og forretningsutvikling i Østfold Energi. Han er utdannet sivilingeniør fra NTNU med etterutdannelse fra INSEAD.
Vatne har solid erfaring fra å utvikle bedrifter innen det grønne skiftet, og sitter i styret i flere start ups. Vatne har 15 års fartstid fra management consulting, hvorav fire år som nordisk leder av strategi-konsulentene i Ernst and Young.
Frank Sagvik
Board member
Frank Sagvik er leder av Akershus Energi sin satsing innen forretningsområdene sol, hydrogen, og grønn infrastruktur. Han er utdannet ingeniør og har bred erfaring fra energisektoren i grensesnittet mellom offentlige myndigheter og privat næringsliv.
Gjennom styreverv i både bransje- og næringsklynger samt i solselskaper som Otovo og Solenergi FUSen har Sagvik solid kunnskap om solbransjen.
Lars G. Dysterud Hansen
Board member
First mover og solenergi seriegründer siden 2004.
Grunnlegger av Norsk Solkraft (2005) og etablerte virksomheter i tidlig fase av solenergiindustriens utviking i Italia. Stiftet AEGA Solar (2013), notert på Oslo Børs, Mypower AS (2017) og Switchr AS (2018).
Erfaring fra solcelleprosjekter (utvikling, bygging og drift) i Italia, Tyskland, Bulgaria, Norge og Sverige.