Solör Bioenergi Varme AS acquires Oplandske Bioenergi
Solör Bioenergi Group, through its company Solør Bioenergi Varme AS, has entered into an agreement to buy the shares in Oplandske Bioenergi AS. The purchase means that Solör expands its operations in the central eastern region of Norway.
Oplandske Bioenergi was founded in 2006 by farmers and forest owners in Gjøvik and Stange. They quickly got Glommen Mjøsen Skog, Hedalm and Eidsiva Bioenergi on the ownership side and the company has, through this ownership constellation, had a stable development until today. The company has mainly worked with district heating from on woodbased biofuels from the region, but in 2021 they opened Norway’s first commercial biochar factory at Rudshøgda in Innlandet. Oplandske Bioenergi today consists of 23 local heating and district heating plants that supply energy to both industry, business, public buildings and private customers. The total supply of energy amounts to 60 GWh annually.
As part of a larger transaction, the plants at Rudshøgda, Løten, Eidsvold and Eidsvold Verk are sold to Eidsiva Bioenergi AS, while the remaining 18 plants will be part of Solør Bioenergi’s portfolio of local heating plants. Solør Bioenergi wants to further develop operations at these facilities in close cooperation with customers, suppliers and local authorities. The biochar operations at Rudshøgda are placed in a separate company with Eidsiva Bioenergi AS and Glommen Mjøsen Skog as owners.
Leading player in renewable energy
Since its start in 2003, Solør Bioenergi has developed into a leading player in renewable energy in Norway and Sweden, and today has more than 2.5 Twh in total energy deliveries. For the Norwegian part of the business, the head office is in Kirkenær. With the acquisition of the local heating systems from Oplandske Bioenergi AS, Solør Bioenergi strengthens its investment in the Inland region
– We look forward to supporting the further development of sustainable heating solutions in the region. The investment in local and district heating has been – and is – very important to reach overall climate goals. In addition, district heating contributes to relieving the load on the electricity grid, which in turn reduces society’s investment needs, and frees up a lot of electricity capacity for more appropriate purposes than heating, such as electric car charging, says Hans M. Moss, chairman of the board of Solør Bioenergi Varme AS.
Continued development of the business
As a representative of the selling shareholders in Oplandske Bioenergi AS, chairman Heidi Hemstad expresses satisfaction that it is industrial and long-term owners who are now taking over the baton and taking the development further.
– With the scope the business has gained, it is right that professional actors with a larger operational and administrative apparatus now take over the responsibility for further development. We are convinced that the new owners will contribute to continued development by continuing to facilitate sustainable energy solutions. The daily operation of district heating continues with the same high delivery reliability as before, and we are very satisfied with that, says Heidi Hemstad.
Solör Bioenergy Group
Solör Bioenergy Group is a leading player in renewable energy based on wood fuels with 600,000 users every day. The company has 271 locations in Sweden and Norway in particular, where they produce and distribute district heating, steam and electricity to homes, companies, public businesses, and industries. The business also includes energy recycling of impregnated wood and production of biofuel, as well as operation and maintenance of municipal and private VA facilities. By making use of the forest’s resources, Solör Bioenergi wants to pave the way for a sustainable society with reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
For more information contact:
Marit Storvik, Director Eidsiva Bioenergi, +47 97645440, marit.storvik@eidsiva.no
Heidi Hemstad, Chairman Oplandske Bioenergi, +47 97112692, heidi@ousdalgard.no
Hans M. Moss, Chairman Solør Bioenergi Varme AS, +47 900 87 225, hans.moss@solorbioenergi.com
Pär Westborg, Marketing Manager Solör Bioenergi, +46 76 777 76 72, par.westborg@solorbioenergi.com