Bo Normark has spent decades shaping the evolution of Europe’s power systems, including senior roles at companies such as ABB and the Swedish transmission system operator (TSO), Svenska Kraftnät. Today, he remains at the forefront of the energy transition through his work with EIT InnoEnergy, alongside a strong focus on batteries and electric mobility.

Widely recognized as a key voice in the energy transition, his work has consistently sat at the intersection of policy, technology, and market design. That breadth of experience gives him a uniquely holistic view of how energy systems evolve: not just in theory, but in practice.

At a time when electrification is accelerating and sectors are becoming increasingly interconnected, that perspective is more important than ever. As part of our Meet the Advisors series, we spoke with Bo about what will define the next decade of grid transformation, where storage can unlock real value, and what excites him most about advising Decade Energy at this stage of its journey.

Q: From your long career shaping power systems and electricity markets in Europe, what shifts do you think will define the next decade of flexibility and grid modernization the most?

First, it’s important to look at the big picture. Electrification is one of the strongest global trends, and we are still only at the beginning.

Today, electricity accounts for around 20% of total energy use, but this is expected to grow significantly, potentially reaching 50 to 70%. This shift is driven by three main forces: 

1. Decarbonization
2. Efficiency
3. Energy independence

However, the pace of electrification varies widely. China is moving much faster, with electrification increasing by around 1.5% per year and already exceeding 30%. In contrast, Europe and the US are growing at less than 0.5% annually and remain just above 20%. To meet our goals across all three drivers, electrification needs to accelerate especially in Europe.

At the same time, the structure of the power system is changing. On the supply side, renewable energy will dominate new capacity additions, leading to a more variable production profile. On the demand side, electrification is expanding rapidly, particularly in transport.

One of the most important shifts will be in heavy transport. Electric trucks are likely to scale faster than passenger EVs due to stronger economics and faster fleet turnover. We already see this clearly in China, where adoption is accelerating rapidly.

The grid has been identified as a potential bottleneck in this transition. As highlighted in the EU’s recent “Grid Package,” simply expanding infrastructure will not be enough.

“We cannot solve this transformation by just adding more wires. We need to make the system smarter.”

This is where sector coupling becomes critical. As transport and power systems begin to share the same energy source, electrification of transport can become a benefit to the power system rather than a burden.

Q: Looking ahead, where do you see the biggest untapped opportunity for storage to create real value in the power system and electricity markets?

As the share of variable renewable energy increases, imbalances in the system become unavoidable. There will be times of oversupply and times of undersupply.

This is where storage becomes essential. Both stationary storage and storage on wheels (electric vehicles) will play an increasingly important role in balancing the system and capturing value.

Today, we see significant differences in how storage is deployed globally. China is clearly leading, with large-scale deployment across the system. The US follows, particularly in Texas and California, where storage is already critical for grid reliability. In Europe, the market is more fragmented. A few countries account for the majority of projects, with the UK leading in battery storage deployment, mainly focused on improving grid reliability.

At the same time, we are seeing a growing trend toward co-location. Storage is increasingly being deployed alongside renewable generation and EV charging infrastructure, which is an important step toward more integrated energy systems.

“If you look at the front-running markets, it’s clear that the potential for storage in Europe is still huge. We’ve only seen the beginning.”

Q: What excites you most about helping guide and advise Decade Energy at this stage of its journey?

For me, this is an opportunity to bring together the different parts of my experience. I have spent many years working on power systems, markets, and infrastructure, and more recently I have been deeply involved in batteries and electric mobility. To find the best solutions for the overall system, you need to understand both.

Decade Energy is operating exactly at that intersection. What also excites me is the opportunity to help connect different parts of the ecosystem. I have worked across industries and built relationships over many years, and I believe that experience can help build trust and create the right partnerships.

Ultimately, solving these challenges requires collaboration across sectors and that’s where I see the biggest opportunity to contribute.

The energy transition is moving fast, and we believe collaboration is at the core of making it happen. We’re proud to work alongside advisors who support Decade Energy’s growth and long-term strategy.

Curious to connect, collaborate, or work with us? We’d love to hear from you.

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