ITS plant officially opened by the “Ministry of Solar Energy”

Robin Martin Kåss, State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy was responsible for the official opening at the ITS plant, which has been operational since summer 2009. In order to set the right terms, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy was renamed "Ministry of Solar Energy" and Mr. Kåss was properly tattooed by CEO at ITS, Thor Christian Tuv.

 

Thor Christian Tuv, CEO at ITS has just tattooed State Secretary Robin Martin Kåss as preparation for the official opening ceremony.

 

In his speech, Mr. Kåss emphasized the role Norway is playing in the world wide solar industry despite the country's unsuited climatic conditions, and underlined the Norwegian Governments continuously high focus on renewable energy. Furthermore, Mr. Kåss was highly impressed by the high level of education among the employees at Innotech Solar, as well as the good link ITS has to the technical expertise at Narvik University Collage.

Prior to the opening, ITS arranged a competition for the schools in the area. The pupils were invited to draw their view on solar energy. ‘It is important for us to engage the local community in what we are doing, and getting the kids view is exciting and inspiring', says Rune Nystad, Plant Manager at ITS in Narvik. In addition to win money on behalf of their school class, the two winners were invited to participate at the official opening, whereas the first price winner Fredrik Wikestad also got to participate in the ceremony by helping Mr. Kåss pack and chip a pallet of solar cells.

 

The winners - two competent, local artists; Fredrik Wikestad (7th grade, Ankenes school) and Aurora Nystad (4th grade at Beisfjord school)

 

In addition to the opening at the ITS plant the guests participated in an interesting seminar at Hurtigruten cruise ship docked at the Narvik pier. After the opening ceremony the participants where brought out to the Tinja Mountain Farm, where the dinner and further celebration took place. Before returning to Narvik the participants were able to view the spectacular northern light dancing over the dark sky, a view especially popular among all the foreign guests.

19th March 2010