BW Velora to drive sustainable digital growth in Nordics, Canada
BW Digital and BW ESS have announced the establishment of BW Velora, a new company that will develop sustainable sites for data centres and digital infrastructure in the Nordic region and Canada.
The creation of BW Velora aims to capitalise on the increasing strategic importance of secure digital infrastructure, with a specific focus on environments powered by renewable energy and designed with long-term sustainability in mind.
Focus on sustainable growth
According to information provided, BW Velora's activities will centre on developing and commercialising high-value sites suitable for next-generation data centres and digital infrastructure. These developments require substantial investment in critical infrastructure, often serving as a catalyst for broader regional industrial and economic activity.
BW Velora will work to offer a comprehensive approach from early-stage development through to the delivery of ready-to-build projects. This will encompass securing land and utilities, obtaining regulatory approvals, and providing design and implementation services. The company intends to simplify project execution, reduce risks, and enable clients to achieve faster time-to-market for their digital infrastructure investments.
Engagement with renewable energy
The company will leverage the experience from both BW Digital in digital infrastructure and BW ESS' history in European energy infrastructure to position itself at the convergence of digital development and renewable energy access. By integrating community engagement into its core activities, BW Velora intends to support sustainable, local economic growth alongside technical progress.
The company's focus will also extend to serving as a platform for wider industrial advancement in sectors such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, carbon capture, and advanced digital services.
Executive perspectives
"BW Velora is strategically positioned to meet the rapidly growing demand for digital infrastructure," said Paal Skoe, Co-founder and CEO of BW Velora. "Our innovative approach significantly reduces risks, simplifies project execution and accelerates entry into high-performance data centre markets, ultimately driving substantial economic growth and sustainability in local communities."
Erik Strømsø, CEO of BW ESS and BW Velora chairman, outlined the alignment between energy and digital sectors, stating, "The worlds of digital infrastructure and sustainable energy are increasingly intertwined. As digital power demand continues to grow, we believe it is essential to take a holistic approach to energy and digital infrastructure development.
"Our investment in BW Velora is an example of this and we believe the company is uniquely positioned to take a leading role in this space, while at the same time creating local economic growth and sustainability."
Ludovic Hutier, CEO of BW Digital and director of BW Velora, commented on the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its implications for infrastructure demand. "As AI continues to evolve, the convergence of data centre growth and increasing power demand strongly supports BW Velora's ambitions. Through BW Digital, we are excited to extend our investment opportunities into the Nordic region, building upon our existing digital ecosystem in Asia-Pacific and fostering meaningful synergies across industries and regions."
Leadership and background
BW Velora was co-founded by Paal Skoe, Nils Kristian Liveng-Ness, and Christian Ekeberg, who collectively have extensive experience in the digital infrastructure market. The company's strategy is informed by this industry expertise and by BW Group's established track record in both energy and digital infrastructure.
BW ESS operates as a global energy storage owner-operator, active in various markets including the UK, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Sweden, with a pipeline of significant battery energy storage projects. BW Digital owns and operates digital assets in the Asia-Pacific region, including a major undersea cable and a large-scale development in Indonesia and Singapore, and is expanding its digital ecosystem globally.
The launch of BW Velora signals an intention by both BW Digital and BW ESS to target opportunities for sustainable data centre growth, particularly at a time when energy consumption concerns, data sovereignty, and industry decarbonisation are increasingly important issues for technology and infrastructure operators worldwide.
