The technology enthusiast who shapes the power market of the future
Ommund Øvrelid started his career at Cegal/Sysco in 2004, when he was involved in the start-up of Sysco, which merged with Cegal in 2020. After the merger, he joined the energetic team at Cegal, where he now works as a solution architect. With an engineering degree in telecommunications and computing, Ommund has always been passionate about technology. From the very beginning of his career, he has had a special focus on databases and production systems (KIS) in the Norwegian energy sector.
The road to the power industry
Ommund stumbled into a career in the power industry almost by accident. After working at Nets/BBS, he moved to Haugesund in 1999, where he started as a database administrator/systems consultant at CGI. Here he got the chance to work with their customer information system "IS Customer", which became a central part of his career.
Over the years, Ommund has been involved in many exciting projects and challenges. He particularly remembers when he had to travel to customers to solve problems with very limited resources. With only a mobile phone to keep in touch with colleagues, it was a tense time when he couldn't go home until the problem was solved.
Today, the challenges are more complex, but Ommund thrives on clearly defined goals and the opportunity to learn new technologies in a team with many competent colleagues.
Meet more people in #Kraftlaget:
Meet Kari - From digital innovator to product owner at Cegal >
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Challenges in the power industry
The power industry is constantly evolving, and Ommund identifies several significant challenges that the industry must address:
- Security, particularly with regard to NIS2 and the revised CBF, are among the most acute challenges.
- The transition to 15-minute resolution on hourly series from March 2025 is another challenge that will require adjustments to databases and processes.
- The implementation of the mFRR EAM, which will strengthen the connection between power producers and the Nordic power market.
Security, artificial intelligence and automation
Looking ahead, Ommund is convinced that security, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation will play a significant role in the power market over the next five years. The large amounts of data required for business processes make AI an essential tool for developing solid decision-making foundations.
Read the article: AI - The key to smarter decisions and sustainable growth in the Energy industry >
Ommund chose Cegal because he wanted the freedom to influence projects and solutions within a specific framework. He sees his experience as a strength in advancing Cegal's position in the power industry, as he is able to see the big picture while focusing on the details to achieve overall goals.
Outside of the power market, Ommund enjoys boating and fishing, as well as building and restoring motorcycles.
He has a humorous perspective on the power market; if it were a movie, it would be a drama, given the enormous importance of the energy supply and the real threats to this socially critical service.
