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The energy market is changing rapidly. Increasing volatility, rising costs, and the integration of renewable sources demand a different way of thinking. It is no longer just energy (kWh), but the real-time utilisation and trading of capacity that determine the commercial value of your portfolio. Advanced software not only provides insight but can also automate, predict, and optimise.
According to Carl Lidholm, executive vice president at Hansen Technologies, this is an essential shift: “The energy market isn’t just evolving – it’s being redefined. In a world of scarcity and volatility, capacity is the new currency: those who can’t respond in real time risk falling behind.”
The Nordic Edge
“The Nordics serve as a model when it comes to market development in the energy and utilities sector,” Lidholm continues. “Smart meters, customer awareness, and flexibility – driven in part by large-scale electrification and the rise of EVs – were implemented here early on. We are now seeing these developments spread across the rest of Europe.”
Hansen, a global player with roots in Australia, has been building software solutions for the most demanding energy and telecom brands for decades. Riikka Kumlin, product director at Hansen, emphasises that their strength lies in specialisation: “We don’t just follow developments in the energy market; we are also an active part of it. Together with our customers, we look at what’s happening and how we can help them respond to it.” Hansen’s solutions grow alongside the industry. “We adapt to market developments and strengthen our portfolio with new solutions, such as our Energy Data Management system and our trading platform: Hansen Trade. We also provide Energy Data Management, CRM, and billing software for automated, market-compliant processes, so customers can streamline their operations and focus on growth.”
Advanced Automation
Kakin Tsoi, account director at Hansen, gives an example: “At Vattenfall, our system brings together various energy data into a single unified system. New production sites, such as wind farms, can be added within a week, rather than months. Automation allows customers to focus on their core activities. We take away the complexity.”
Data as a Driver of Insight
Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in harnessing the growing data stream. “AI helps identify patterns that were previously invisible,” says Lidholm. “Take an energy company that doesn’t know whether a customer has installed solar panels or a heat pump. With AI, we can predict what’s happening in a household based purely on consumption data. That gives our customers insights they didn’t have before.”
Kumlin also emphasises the practical value: “AI helps identify anomalies and make predictions. It’s not about the technology itself, but the value it delivers. Our solutions are AI-driven, enabling customers to respond more quickly and effectively to market changes.”
Flexibility as a Revenue Model
“The real value lies in how quickly you can understand, optimise, and monetize flexibility and capacity,” says Tsoi. “To do this, you need to know what’s happening in your portfolio -minute by minute, across both your production assets and your customer base. With our Hansen Trade and Energy Data Management (EDM) solution, we provide up-to-date and intelligent portfolio insights, enabling utilities to sell frequency and reserve capacity to transmission system operators, and energy suppliers to reduce their imbalance costs and leverage flexibility from their residential portfolio.”
Lidholm adds: “With the rise of more solar and wind energy, the energy market is becoming more volatile. Our systems are designed to process energy data in real time, in a multi-asset environment. This allows customers to spread market risks and manage increasing complexity.” This isn’t possible without advanced digitalisation: “Through us, energy companies can further digitalise and optimise their operations, rather than investing in expensive infrastructure. In this way, we contribute to a faster, more cost-efficient energy transition.”
Local Expertise, Global Strength
Hansen combines global experience with a local presence. “We work closely with our customers and understand the challenges they face every day,” explains Tsoi. “Our software is tailored specifically for the energy sector, and that makes all the difference. We deliver not only technology, but also the expertise needed to achieve the best results.” Lidholm emphasises the importance of local roots: “We are an international player that understands the local culture and market.” In the Netherlands, where the energy market is highly regulated and grid capacity is scarce, Hansen helps energy companies, among other things, to manage capacity constraints effectively. “We transform constraints and risks into new opportunities” says Tsoi.
Future-proof with Hansen
The energy transition demands innovation, scalability, and collaboration. Hansen provides not only software but also the domain expertise to help companies grow in an increasingly complex market. Lidholm: “Our mission is to support energy companies in capitalizing on commercial opportunities, while maintaining the highest standards in data privacy, cybersecurity, and sustainability. Hansen achieves this with solutions that are proven globally and tailored locally. “We turn energy suppliers into flexibility providers,” concludes Kumlin.
