This year’s winner of Årets Kraftkvinne has been announced as Volt Power Analytics’ founder and Managing Director, Katinka Bogaard. Årets Kraftkvinne (Power Woman of the Year) is a prestigious annual award presented by the Kraftkvinnene network to recognize and celebrate exceptional women in Norway’s renewable energy sector.
The award highlights women who demonstrate outstanding professional expertise, innovation, knowledge sharing, and commitment to shaping the renewable energy industry while inspiring others to join the field.
“I am speechless and honored that Kraftkvinnene and the Norwegian power market have recognized our achievements with building up Volt Power Analytics – a power market analysis company that we have built from scratch with no external funding over the last three years. As a young woman in the power sector leading Volt, this award means a lot to me. Its truly important the work that Kraftkvinnene do and are doing to work towards better gender balance and to put the spotlight on the outstanding women that work in the industry like Kate Bragg, Marta Laukeland Kleiven and all the other Kraftkvinne-nominees. I’m lucky to be apart of it.
If I were to give myself as a young female professional some advice 8 years ago as I was graduating from NTNU it would be: dare to be different, knowledge is power and never think you are not worthy of a chance. I never thought I would be running my own company that is considered among the key voices within the Nordic power market.
Looking ahead, our journey at Volt Power Analytics is really just beginning. We plan to scale quickly across both geographies and markets, so stay tuned and thanks to all the people out there routing for us – we appreciate each and every one of you!“.
At this year’s ceremony, Norwegian Energy Minister Terje Aasland presented Katinka with the award, delivering the following statement about her career (translated from Norwegian):
“This year’s Power Woman is an entrepreneur. At a young age, she started her own company and built it from the ground up. In a short period of time, this year’s Power Woman has established the company as one of Norway’s most innovative analysis environments. She has challenged and renewed a market dominated by large and established players. She has achieved this by delivering accurate and modern power market analysis.
She was among the first to deliver hourly price forecasts for the medium term and has led the development of advanced models that include negative prices and batteries in models for simulation and optimisation of the power market
This year’s Power Woman is committed to ensuring that decisions in the energy sector are based on facts and sound analysis. She therefore shares her insights in the media and at conferences throughout Northern Europe. She has presented analyses that have graced the front pages of DN, appeared on the daily news and helped to provide the industry with a better data basis for important issues, including offshore wind power. What really sets her apart is the way she shares her knowledge. Whether she is talking to customers, journalists or students, she puts her whole heart into making the power market more understandable and accessible. It is no wonder she is often asked to appear in the media – she gives clear answers, and she does so with a warmth and credibility that few others have.
She also organises large gatherings, such as ‘Kraftbobler’ and professional events at Arendalsuka, which have become important meeting places for the power industry and strengthen the industry’s profile. In a male-dominated industry, this year’s Power Woman clearly demonstrates that women can and should take their place. As a young senior executive in a technology-intensive start-up, she leads the way with a clear commitment to better gender balance – both in her own company and in the industry in general.
She has helped several women enter and advance in the energy industry through structured networking, mentoring, informal conversations and active support. She has also been invited as a guest speaker at Women in New Energies and serves on several boards, including Arendal Næringsforening Ung. This year’s Power Woman made a courageous choice when she started her own company at a young age in a market where start-ups are almost non-existent. Nevertheless, she has successfully competed with heavyweights such as Volue, Aurora Energy, Baringa and Energy Exemplar – and succeeded. She has clearly proven that quality trumps size: knowledge, innovation and perseverance have made Volt a prominent and recognised player. Her ability to combine entrepreneurship with advanced professional expertise and an unwavering commitment to renewable energy is very rare.”
About Katinka Bogaard
Katinka holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from NTNU (2017) and has worked for several leading energy market analysis companies before founding Volt Power Analytics in early 2023. Under her leadership, Volt has grown from a startup into a trusted, self-financed market analysis provider serving clients across the European power market.
About Volt Power Analytics
Volt Power Analytics is an independent provider of tailor-made models and analyses covering long-term development of power balances, prices, and capture rates within the European power market. The company helps clients navigate the green transition given the influx of wind, solar, and hydrogen in the European energy mix.
Interested in finding out more? Get in touch!