By Karl H. Ystanes

Alexander Strøm Arnesen works at Statkraft Markets Continental (SMC ) in Amsterdam, together with the rest of the Renewables & Emissions team. Today, however, we meet him at the SMC offices in Düsseldorf. He has attended a meeting and is on his way back to the Netherlands. 

A great deal of Alexander’s job involves selling green power documented by certificates in the European wholesale market. Alexander is part of a team that works in a relatively new market; as a bonus, the young engineering graduate will gain important experience from a job in an international environment. His boss, Stef Peters, heartily recommends Alexander, especially because he is so quick to learn. Alexander is both humble and eager with respect to his tasks.

Great deal of freedom
–Yes, my job is exciting and challenging because I’m new at the game and because green power trading is a reasonably new industry in Europe. It can be quite a big challenge to move somewhere where you don’t know anybody and can’t even speak the language. Fortunately in major cities like Amsterdam there are associations and other things that you can get involved in to meet people. In addition, I know some people from my earlier studies and stays abroad who do not live far away. They often come to visit on weekends, says Alexander, who likes change.

-Statkraft’s Continental venture and trading in green certificates and emissions is in a growth phase, and our department has a high degree of freedom. This means that we have a great deal of flexibility to respond quickly to opportunities in the market, which has been an important factor for our success. We are working in a segment of the power industry where changes, both political and market-related, are taking place all the time. We have to go new ways – it’s exciting. I need to apply all my skills, and then some, says Alexander.

How do you sell green power?
-The electricity in the end-user’s sockets is a mixture of electricity from various energy sources throughout Europe. Now its origin will be labelled. The energy sources will be identified on the basis of political guidelines, so that the customers can choose whether they want to buy hydropower or coal-based power. The reason for this is a desire to make visible to the customers the environmental impact of the various forms of production, and to influence the general public to demand more environment-friendly solutions for the supply of power. This is, of course, in accordance with the EU’s ambitions to increase the renewable share of the power consumption. In addition, a certificate system has been established that awards green suppliers with certificates that document environment-friendly power. Not unlike the quota trading system for CO2, these certificates can also be traded as commodities. I also work with the sale of green certificates, says Alexander.

Can be greener

What are your experiences with the new green power trading?

-There is a great potential here, but things take time. The authorities want to encourage green power trading through subsidy regimes and various forms of tax relief. There is a growing demand for choice so that clean power can be purchased, but there are many challenges facing a voluntary certificate market. The future of the green market depends a great deal on the general public’s response and the political developments in Brussels. The waters are uncharted, but I couldn’t have asked for a better job. I’ve learned a lot in a short period of time. Selling environment-friendly power is an ideological project that gives a good return. I am comfortable about participating in such a project. Energy policy in Europe is opening up the power market more and more, and it is fun to be with Statkraft during this process. We have an ambitious, but achievable vision, to be a European leader in environment-friendly energy. I’m having a great time, says Alexander, before he jumps on his train back to Amsterdam and the power exchange.

MAKING EUROPE GREENER: Alexander Strøm Arnesen.