Ellevio acquires Markbygden Net Väst, continues northern Sweden expansion

Swedish energy company Ellevio acquires Markbygden Net Väst AB, an electricity grid company with significant importance for the green economy in the northern Swedish region of Norrbotten. The deal marks the next step in Ellevio's efforts to establish itself in the region and follows last year’s acquisition of the sister network, Markbygden Net, which connects the wind power cluster Markbygden 1101.

- We believe in the importance of the wind production cluster and the region for Sweden's energy transition and expansive new industry sector. By acquiring Markbygden Net Väst, we aim to contribute to the growth of the green economy in both the Piteå area and Sweden as a whole, says Johan Lindehag, CEO at Ellevio.

Ellevio is one of Sweden’s largest energy companies, with some one million customers and a growing portfolio of energy services, energy storage, and solutions for a transforming energy market. For a long time, Ellevio has been working to facilitate the connection of additional wind and solar farms within its electricity network areas in central Sweden.

- Last year’s investment in Markbygden Net was not an isolated event. With this new acquisition, we are taking further steps in the development of the distribution grid, paving the way for both electricity production and other industries, Lindehag says.

Unlike Markbygden Net, which Ellevio acquired in 2023, the infrastructure of Markbygden Net Väst is not yet completed. This provides greater opportunities to scale and adapt the grid to future needs, thereby supporting regional electrification and the growth of green industries. Through its scale, resources, and expertise in procurement and project management, Ellevio can offer critical capabilities that will benefit future customers.

- Within 20 years, Sweden is expected to need twice as much electricity as it does today. Following the decision to halt many planned offshore wind farms, onshore wind clusters like Markbygden 1101 become absolutely critical. We will work actively with our customers to enable the grid connection needed to complete wind production quickly and securely, Johan Lindehag concludes.
 

About the acquisition

• Markbygden 1101 is one of Europe's largest wind farms, with a total planned capacity estimated at approximately 3 400 MW and an annual production of up to 12 TWh – equivalent to about 7 percent of Sweden's total electricity generation. The production capacity can be compared to the annual output of the Lule River, which is approximately 14 TWh.
   
• Markbygden Net Väst’s grid is currently in the development phase and the connected capacity is only around 250 MW. The total planned capacity is 1 700 MW, equivalent to that of a nuclear power plant. The grid has a connection point to the national transmission grid, with a planned series of wind farms to be connected along the network.
   
• Ellevio Holding 1 AB take over Markbygden Net Väst AB 18 December 2024.
   
• The seller is the German turbine manufacturer ENERCON GmbH. ENERCON’s Regional Head for Central and Northern Europe, Benjamin Seifert, comments:
  
  “Installation and operation of network infrastructure are not part of ENERCON's core business, and this divestment aligns with the strategy we communicated when we began developing wind farms in the region more than a decade ago. Our ambition has been to ensure continued expansion by transferring operations to a reliable and experienced electricity grid operator. With Ellevio, all current and potential customers will benefit from a well-established, strong, and knowledgeable partner who will ensure the best possible performance for Markbygden Net Väst.”

Contact for media

Jesper Liveröd, Head of Media Relations
+46 70 929 96 23
jesper.liverod@ellevio.se

Ellevio Press Office, available 24/7, +46 20-20 20 60
press@ellevio.se

With close to one million customers, Ellevio is one of Sweden’s largest energy companies. Together with our customers we take an active role in the journey towards an increasingly electrified society. Our electricity grids are the backbone that connects producers and consumers, enable more renewable electricity, electrification of transport and industry and create opportunities for new climate-smart solutions. We have about 730 employees and employ a total of some 3,000 people around the country. We are owned by the pension funds OMERS Infrastructure, AP3, Folksam and AMF.

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