VGB is the international technical association of energy plant operators. It provides its members with an international network and a platform for the exchange and transfer of technical know-how. The 437 current member companies of VGB are operators, manufacturers and institutions involved in the power industry field. The members are from 33 countries and represent an installed capacity of more than 300 GW.
Fortum has been a member of VGB for decades. Over the years tens of Fortum employees have participated in different trainings and events covering all generation technologies, giving lectures and actively cooperating in different work groups that aim to develop, e.g., technical instructions, processes and standardisation.
In honour of VGB’s centennial, we’ve asked two of our employees to share their thoughts about working together with VGB.
Mikko Päivärinta, currently responsible for Fortum’s third party O&M sites and a member of the VGB Technical Advisory Board, states that VGB’s instructions and standards have provided excellent support to his work:
”VGB’s guidelines are clear and detailed; I have based many instructions and ways of working on these guidelines, especially when I was responsible for operations and maintenance at our customer’s site. Now, as a member of the VGB Technical Advisory Board, I have had the chance to participate in creating the future vision for VGB, and I’ve made many new friends around Europe along the way,” he says.
Martin Reckers, employee at Fortum eNext and responsible for chemistry and the environment at Trianel CCGT power plant in Hamm, Germany, adds:
“VGB is a well-organized association providing understandable guidelines and useful trainings. By actively participating in conferences and working groups, it is possible to tap into a lot of valuable experience and support when needed. From my experience, VGB’s support has helped me to solve many problems in Hamm, and I have also made many new friends and contacts.”
The Fortum eNext team warmly congratulates VGB PowerTech on the association’s 100th anniversary. The activity of VGB sums up a century-old history of collaborative knowledge transfer in the field of energy and records the present through the professional work together with our people.