With 17,000 experts within the fields of infrastructure, industry and energy operating on behalf of customers worldwide, AFRY is a leading international provider of engineering and design services as well as consultancy. Formed in January 2019 through the merger of Swedish engineering consultancy ÅF and Finnish competitor, Pöyry, the company looks back on over a century and a quarter of experience in technical advancement. European Business spoke to the Business Unit Director of Buildings in Denmark Martin Kjaer about the new entity’s strategic goals for the future.
Energy & Environmental Engineering
European Business Industries


Europe has a reputation for taking the lead in power generation using renewable energy sources. The south of the continent, in particular, has a fondness for solar energy as it bathes in sunshine. EDF ENR supports the solar power industry with a wide selection of services ranging from conceptualization to installation and maintenance. The company will even aid customers in determining their financing options to ensure they can harness the power of the sun.

What it means to be seen
It is no secret that one of the most widely debated topics is the progression of human activity and the degradation of the planet we call home. While many companies remain ignorant about the importance of caring for the natural environment, some make special efforts to coexist with it. Others have made it their mission to preserve the planet as we know it, understanding that our ecosystems are not individually functioning segments but a truly connected whole. Polish company SEEN Technologie sp. z o.o. fights for this universal whole through its business and its measures to protect the beautiful environment we have been given.

Knitting the renewable energy web
More and more players enter the renewable energy market. Governments issue national and European regulation to support more sustainable developments, while adjusting their directives over time. For companies and public organizations that want to increase their sustainability, it is ever more difficult to find their path in a web of regulations, products and certificates. Nvalue AG acts as a renewable energy wholesaler and supplies renewable energy through a broad range of Certificates to energy distribution companies and corporates across Europe, together with several services to lead the way forward.

We have all seen the news report images of plastic piling up along beaches, and many different solutions have been attempted to incentivise its cleanup. This has often taken the form of plastic recycling schemes, but more recently, there have been attempts to harness market forces to solve the problem. Norwegian company Infinitum AS is one of the most successful models of this kind of enterprise, and now, under the leadership of Managing Director Kjell Olav A. Maldum, it is undertaking an ambitious expansion strategy.

Power – for today and tomorrow
Italy’s natural gas market is the third largest in Europe. Over recent years, the country has invested heavily in new infrastructure. At the same time, Italy is experiencing increasing demand for electricity generated from renewable sources. The Sime Group in Crema successfully operates in this competitive and challenging market. The energy provider considers diversification as one key to success.

Direct air capture has its role to play in climate protection
The scientific community is sure about one thing: Rising CO2 levels in the air heat up the planet and endanger the survival of mankind. The Swiss company Climeworks wants to be part of the solution by removing CO2 from the air – either to store it underground or to sell it down the supply chain to beverage and fuel manufacturers. European Business spoke with Climeworks’ Communications Director Louise Charles about the impact she foresees for her company’s technology, its business applications and her optimism in the fight against the climate crisis.

Exporting expertise
The renewable energies sector is one of the most dynamically evolving markets worldwide. Double-digit growth rates are the rule rather than the exception. This is also true for Elettrostudio Energia SpA. The Italian company constructs and manages wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass power plants all over the country and is now aiming to use its technical expertise and project management know-how to develop other European markets, too.

Capturing sunshine around the world
With global warming on the rise, solar energy is needed now more than ever. In order to efficiently convert this energy into a resource we can use, solar tracking systems need to direct the panels towards the sunlight to capture it. The solar tracking industry is growing tremendously, and DEGERenergie GmbH, a German-based company, is a large contributor to this development. Its incredible history and international presence make it a corporation that is respected throughout the world.

Empowering the 21st century
Against the background of the frequently discussed energy transition, energy management has become one of the key issues for corporates, communities and even governments. As energy prices rise and our natural resources decrease, everybody is searching for smart and efficient solutions which save costs and, at the same time, ensure a constant and trouble-free energy supply. Heliocentric Energy Solutions AG is a leading provider of technological energy management systems with significant expertise in the field of hybrid solutions. Offering a holistic approach, the company has enjoyed steady growth in recent years. Jens Fiedler, Vice President ICT Sales & Marketing, is confident that the company can continue to enhance its international footprint in the future.