If you’ve worked in Nordic power markets, you’ve likely come across Olav Johan Botnen’s name. Now a Power Market Expert at Volt Power Analytics, we sat down with him to discuss his career and what continues to drive his interest in the energy industry.
What got you into energy?
I have a bit of a hereditary predisposition: my uncle was a utility CEO and my grandfather was a machinist at a power plant. I found the energy-related courses at the university in Trondheim interesting, so starting that degree turned out to be a good fit.
What interests you most about the energy industry?
During my studies, I found investment analysis in the power industry particularly interesting. Once I started working, I gradually developed a growing interest in price simulations for forecasting future power prices. As more and more clients came to me with questions about price trends, my focus naturally shifted more and more toward that area.
What is different about working at Volt than other companies?
My first job was at Sintef Energy Research, where I focused on developing the EMPS model for simulating the Nordic power market from 1987 to 1995.
My current role at Volt is quite similar, but with significantly more client interaction and customer focus than back then, when the work was largely driven by national software development programmes.
My second job at Markedskraft/Wattsight/Volue Insight from 1995 to 2022 was more similar to what I do now at Volt. Back then, it was about building analyses and products from scratch. Much of the work is the same today, but the product landscape is more defined, and quantitative analysis can go much further now than it could back then.
Fun Fact
My family and I occasionally find ourselves in the live studio audience for The Voice.