"The U.S. is among the most energy-consuming countries in the world and the long-term potential for sustainable energy solutions and energy efficiency is enormous", says Senior Vice President Brian Seeberg Larsen, director of COWI´s industry and energy division.

"Cowi wants the initiative to gain a foothold in the promising North American market as part of the development of energy to one of the group´s growth areas. The initiative is part of our overall future strategy for Cowi in North America", says Brian Seeberg Larsen on the establishment of the company Cowi North America Energy.

Focus on the northeastern U.S.
As Managing Director of the new subsidiary, COWI has appointed Vice President Jens Ole Hansen, who today is head of COWI´s energy activities in Denmark. His task will be to develop customer relationships and build an organization for district heating and cooling and wind energy, focusing on the northeastern United States.

District heating is one of the core competencies in energy, which Jens Ole Hansen will market in the U.S.

"District heating is a very effective way to distribute energy, but it is not widely used in North America. Few cities have district heating in larger scale, but virtually all universities have district heating or cooling on their campus. They are often the size of Danish provincial towns, making it one of the areas we will deal with first", says Jens Ole Hansen.

Long-term project
Jens Ole Hansen describes the establishment in the U.S. as long-term. "It´s hard to penetrate the U.S. market, and the task is to initially create a sustainable business over the first three years".

COWI North America Energy is established in connection with another of COWI´s U.S. companies, Ocean and Coastal Consultants Inc. in Trumbull in the state of Connecticut, two hours drive from New York.

The company will be established per 1st of January 2012.

Source: Energy-Supply

To read more about COWI on State of Green, click here.
Learn more about Danish Board of District Heating on State of Green, by clicking here.