Statkraft takes over Vattenfall’s charging biz in UK
The Swedish energy group Vattenfall is retreating from the UK’s EV market as it sells its British charging infrastructure business to Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy that is based in Norway.
Statkraft will take over Vattenfall’s British branch of its charging network, including personnel, and will manage, operate and maintain the charging stations that are part of the InCharge network. Vattenfall operates and installs charging points together with partners across Europe and also forges roaming agreements. The latest deal in the UK was with NewMotion, a member of the Shell Group.
While the press release does not go into detail regarding single partnerships, Statkraft said it intends to supply the Vattenfall charging stations with 100% renewable energy from its own portfolio and further expand the existing network in cooperation with existing and new customers.
Following the UK acquisition, Vattenfall will work with Statkraft to transfer the assets on a case by case basis, the company states in its press release.
Besides, the deal appears to have no further implications for Vattenfall’s other e-mobility operations in Europe. Tomas Björnsson, Head of E-mobility at Vattenfall said that “exiting the UK market with our electric vehicle charging offer does not impact our continued growth in the markets we are active in, but rather allows for further focus”. He added that the company was “taking stock” on the British business and that it would their “utmost to ensure that customers experience limited disruption at this time”.
For Stakraft however, the take-over is part of a “long term investment into the UK market” and “a key part of our strategy,” explains David Flood, Managing Director of Statkraft UK. Last year, Statkraft had already acquired the German electric mobility system provider E-Wald as reported. The UK Vattenfall deal is done via its 100% owned subsidiary Gronn Kontakt UK.
Concerning this strategy, Anthony Hinde, head of eMobility at Statkraft UK added: “Statkraft’s experience with charging in Norway and Germany provides the confidence and scale to make a sustainable and customer-focused business in the UK. In all these markets Statkraft is already present with energy production and comprehensive market operations.”
Vattenfall too has invested over £3.5bn in UK energy and says it would “continue to invest in developing its core UK renewable power generation, heating, B2B sales and distribution businesses”.
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