Trond Straume, CEO of Volue, looks back on 2024 and the milestones it delivered, before commentating on what is the come over the next twelve months.
Author
Trond Straume, CEO, Volue.
Published
Jan 15, 2025
2024 was a year of significant milestones and transformative change for Volue. In October, we proudly announced the completion of our acquisition by Arendals Fossekompani, Advent International, and Generation Investment Management, ushering in a new chapter with a strengthened ownership structure.
This partnership not only fortifies our platform but also amplifies our ability to deliver innovative solutions for our customers. By combining the complementary expertise of Arendals Fossekompani, Advent, and Generation, we are ensuring the continuity of our core values while embracing innovative perspectives that position us for sustained growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions.
Since Volue’s launch, I have always believed that our growth would stem from a balanced combination of organic and structural expansion. This vision guided us to position Volue as a consolidator in a fragmented market, a goal I firmly believe we have achieved. In December, we took another significant step forward by completing the acquisition of PowerBot GmbH, a leading algotrading software provider based in Vienna.
This acquisition marked yet another pivotal milestone in our growth journey. PowerBot’s innovative platform seamlessly complements Volue Algo Trader Power, enhancing our offerings for quants and accelerating our expansion beyond Western Europe. Simply put, our vision to become the leading SaaS provider for the global energy system by 2030 is further solidified by this move.
Integrating PowerBot into our product portfolio has created a truly unique energy trading suite, delivering unparalleled solutions in short-term trading, and setting new benchmarks for efficiency and innovation. Our ambitions remain strong, and we look forward to sharing further announcements over the next 12 months as we continue to shape the future of the global energy system.
As I write these words, the snow continues to fall outside my window, as it has done across most of Norway this January. But I want to take your mind back to a warmer time: the summer of 2024.
In July that year, Elering, AST, and Litgrid, transmission system operators (TSOs) of the Baltic states, notified Russian and Belarusian operators of the non-extension of the BRELL agreement. This signalled that they would decouple from the Russia-controlled electricity system in February 2025. I, like many others, warmly welcomed the decision to accelerate the integration of their electricity grids with the Continental Europe network. Indeed, I would argue that their synchronisation with the EU networks has now become one of the most urgent priorities for EU energy infrastructure.
Not only is this great news for the overall energy transition, but it is good news for Volue too and further illustrates that our strategy is the right one. Our market-proven capabilities span regions, sectors, and product areas, positioning us as a leader in the energy systems of tomorrow while delivering growth and profitability for our customers today. Whether supporting traditional energy providers transitioning to renewables or enabling new entrants in the green energy space, our diverse range of products and services remains highly relevant. Our mission is clear: to empower every participant in the energy landscape to play a constructive role in advancing the transition to sustainability.
This commitment underscores Volue’s vision and reinforces the strength of our Pan-European platform. Our advanced software solutions are designed to meet the demands of an increasingly volatile energy market, driven by the global shift to renewable energy. I am proud to say that they do so.
The events of late 2024, such as the damage to undersea power cables between Finland and Estonia, once again highlighted the growing uncertainty and challenges facing energy security. While we avoid delving into politics, this incident served as a stark reminder of the critical need for resilience in our energy systems.
At Volue, we provide some of the world’s most advanced and sophisticated tools to help countries, societies, and energy producers navigate these shifting dynamics. In these ever-changing and uncertain times, our solutions play a crucial role in fostering stability, innovation, and progress within the energy sector. They will continue to do so in 2025 and beyond.
We continue to achieve remarkable progress across Europe, leveraging our market-proven capabilities. While our efforts remain deeply relevant across Europe, we are also strengthening our foothold in Japan. The strides we have made in this dynamic market underscore our commitment to global growth, with even greater achievements anticipated in the months ahead.
Our unwavering aim is to empower every participant in the energy landscape to contribute meaningfully to the transition toward sustainability. By doing so, we help ensure a future where everyone benefits from cleaner, more resilient energy systems.
In collaboration with our new owners, we have reviewed and strengthened our team structure. As part of this process, we will announce several strategic hires in Q1 of this year, and I look forward to sharing more details soon.
Our commitment to delivering the highest quality also remains unwavering. In an increasingly uncertain world, our customers not only demand exceptional data, software, and services but also expect robust security and reliability. These expectations extend beyond our customers to society at large, reflecting the critical role energy systems play in everyday life.
Security and quality are fundamental pillars of growth, trust, and resilience in the energy sector. To meet these demands, we have implemented stringent, organisational-wide security measures backed by industry certifications. I am proud that Volue holds ISO 27001 certification, demonstrating our dedication to safeguarding sensitive information with robust security systems. Additionally, our ISO 9001 certification reflects our commitment to quality management, helping us continuously improve our performance, meet customer expectations, and deliver solutions of the highest standard.
These measures are not just benchmarks of excellence. For us, they are vital components of the trust we build with our customers and the broader energy community as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of this dynamic landscape.
I want to express my deep gratitude and thanks to our employees, customers, and partners who have been instrumental in shaping Volue's journey. With a strengthened ownership structure, strategic acquisitions like PowerBot, and a continued focus on delivering innovative, secure, and high-quality solutions, we stand ready to navigate the challenges and opportunities of an evolving energy landscape.
Together, we will drive the energy transition forward. By doing so, we will empower society, advance sustainability, and ensure a resilient and prosperous future for all. The Volue journey continues, and the best is yet to come.