UTGARD AS
ADVISORY SERVICES

ENERGY - MOBILITY - CLIMATE

ABOUT

Expert Advisers

The owners and employees are:

Bjørn Utgård, Norwegian energy engineer and entrepreneur who works in advisory and project management in e-mobility, renewable energy and industrial development.

Linkedin.com/in/bjornutgard/

Twitter @BjornUtgard

Monica Araya, works on climate policy, e-mobility and global climate initiatives. Professional experience in Europe, LatAm and U.S> More info: www.monicaaraya.org

Linkedin.com/in/monicaaraya/

Twitter @MonicaArayaTica

WHAT WE DO

We support innovative, zero-emissions strategies in several countries and sectors.

ADVISORY SERVICES

35+ years of combined experience

Utgard AS is an employee-owned, Norwegian consultancy company whose team possesses over 40 years of combined experience in international energy, climate policy and clean technology.

Utgard AS works with international clients and partners across Europe and Latin America, covering electric mobility, renewable energy, industrial processes, cleantech financing, hydrogen economy, climate negotiations, cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship.

From 2012-18, it provided support to Nivela, in Latin America and Costa Rica Limpia.

The team has been engaged in a wide variety of projects on electric mobility in Norway and emerging economies, and their paper “Electrifying emerging markets; the case of Costa Rica” won the award for “Best paper” at the International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS30) in Stuttgart in October 2017. The have both engaged in e-mobility projects in various countries, especially in the Americas and Europe.

Monica Araya is the Lead adviser since January 2018.

Get in Touch

SELECTED PROJECTS

Projects in Europe, US and the Americas

Here are some examples of projects that the company has executed:

International. Renewable Energy Policies for Cities. The Case of Costa Rica. IRENA

International, Project for the International Climate Politics Hub funded by the European Climate Foundation.

Mexico. Non-technical case study write up of electric buses feasibility study. C40 financial facility. London.

Latin America, Decarbonization explanation strategy. 2050 Pathway Platform.

Latin America, Report on Electric Mobility developments in Latin America and The Caribbean. ONU Ambiente.

Costa Rica. National Decarbonization Plan. A work in collaboration with Tempus Analytica guided by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and financed by the Inter American Development Bank.

Costa Rica. Action Plan 2018-2022 to the National Decarbonization Plan, a project by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Climate Change Directorate, funded by GIZ German

Latin America, Project for the International Climate Politics Hub on COP25 funded by the European Climate Foundation.

Costa Rica. Essentially Electric: How the Costa Rica Can Lead in Electric Mobility. Developed a roadmap for electric mobility in Costa Rica. Supporting congress, government agencies, companies and NGOs with cutting-edge knowledge on electric vehicle technology and policy.Costa Rica Limpia.

Norway. Analysis of the prospects for creating a market for biogas to transport. Analyzed the technological, commercial and strategic opportunities and barriers for biogas (biomethane) as a transport fuel in Norway to provide recommendations for policy measures throughout the supply chain.

Costa Rica. Bridging the Green Growth Gap in Costa Rica. Project by ODI and GIZ.

Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru. Toward a Green Growth Platform in the Pacific Alliance. Project by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership CISL

Norway/The Netherlands. Development of a smart EV charging system. Project lead. Developed business models, technology concepts and relationships for establishing a smart charging system for EVs in Norway.Jedlix and Elbilforeningen.

Norway. Liquid biogas value chains in Norway. Project to develop an innovative liquid biogas value chain in northern Norway. Provided technology and industry biogas expertise to the team and developed novel value chain proposals. Barents Naturgass.

Costa Rica. Improving the conditions for Distributed Energy Innovation in Costa Rica. Project development and management with a grant from the British FCO through the Science and Innovation Fund. Analyzed the international electricity industry, interviewed industry champions and prepared analysis on drivers and opportunities for innovation. Facilitated stakeholder dialogue to gather ideas, build capacity and propose follow-up projects. Elaboration of concrete innovation proposals for local stakeholders and follow-up. Lead author of 160-page final report. Available here.

International. Back office support to Nivela project since 2014, Latin American climate and development policies.

Belarus. Joint project with COWI and NEFCO to help advance electric mobility in Belarus.

Spain. Collaboration with the Smart Island World Congress to provide a keynote speech about fossil-free Costa Rica.

Utgard AS has also engaged in multiple high-level events. Monica is an active public speaker having done three TED talks (over 5M views)