Equinor renewables chief Eitrheim quits for Statkraft

Statkraft has named Pål Eitrheim – currently renewables head at fellow Norwegian energy giant Equinor – as its new Nordics chief.

Oil & gas giant Equinor said Jens Økland will take on the role of acting executive vice president for renewables from the end of this week following news of Eitrheim’s departure.

Statkraft said Eitrheim will join the Norwegian power group as executive vice president for the Nordics business area by June 2025 at the latest.

At Equinor Eitrheim has since 2018 led a push into renewables that has encompassed offshore wind – including a high-profile move into the US market – as well as onshore wind and solar.

The outgoing Equinor executive has most recently been in the headlines over plans to scale back the company's activities amid a wider retreat from green energy by oil & gas players.

Økland, who replaces him on an acting basis, is currently vice president for strategy and commercial solutions in renewables. Equinor said it will begin the process of appointing a permanent replacement for Eitrheim.

Eitrheim said of his move to Statkraft: “I look forward to using my experience, skills, and commitment to further develop Statkraft during an exciting and crucial phase, where we will further develop Norwegian hydropower for the future and build new wind power capacity to meet the energy needs of industry and the electrification of society."

Statkraft CEO Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, who has charted a revised green power strategy for the group based on fewer markets, said: “Pål will, among other responsibilities, oversee Norwegian hydropower, the backbone of Statkraft. Our hydropower plants constitute one-third of Norwegian power production and we are in the process of further developing them for the future."