Meet a Nilar Employee – Henrik Wahlgren

What is your job title?
Technical Project Manager

How would you describe yourself?
As a person I am very driven, as I always like to try new things and am curious about the unknown.

How did your journey with Nilar begin?
I had been working in the wind turbine industry for several years. I decided to look for something new, even though I did not know what I was looking for. When I came across this job ad for Nilar I felt like batteries was the next step within the industry. I was interested in the position because it seemed like an innovative company to me, that is still growing, and it was exciting to join it in that phase. I have been with Nilar for nearly 4 years now. 

What is the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
For the most part, I work directly with integrators. I‘ve been developing new kinds of storage that could fit with the inverter from the integrator. I think it’s motivating to work directly with the integrators to meet the customer’s needs. There are new ideas created by both sides as we identify a need and figure out how to address it. It is very satisfying to be a participant in developing new products and solutions that can contribute to taking Nilar to new markets. I think it is cool to be a part of that.

What led you to work in the energy industry?
I would say curiosity. I have always been curious about new things, wanting to learn and try unfamiliar experiences. In the beginning, I was actually a car mechanic. From there, I transitioned into the iron industry, working for a large factory as an electrician. Then I got the opportunity to work for a wind turbine company as a technician and was promoted to Area Manager. This has brought me to where I am today.

What are some lessons learned over your career?
It has given me a broad perspective having to work my way up and learning along the way. Something important I have learned is that you need to be flexible and have good communication. 

Your favorite hobby?
As a hobby, I like to go fishing. It is how I spend most of my free time. This summer we went to the mountains and enjoyed both hiking and fishing. It mostly involved fly fishing, but I like all types of fishing. It was an interest that grew more as I got older. It is a nice way to relax, it requires patience and a great deal of focus to have some success.

A secret talent?
Something that only a few know about me is that I really like to cook. I do a lot of cooking, to the point where I do everything from scratch without any semi-processed food, using natural and preferably locally grown ingredients. I have a well-equipped kitchen, potentially with some strange tools maybe for other people, and a smoker. I would say my best and most popular dish is tacos based on Zander fish.  Cooking can involve many steps, but I find it relaxing to focus on just one thing. I like working with my hands, which also includes baking. 

What’s the best thing about working at Nilar?
One thing is that it’s continuously evolving, and we are moving forward. Also, I really appreciate my coworkers and all the competence that they bring to the company. It is incredible how much it feels like a community.