Magnus Energy strengthens its consulting practice with Maarten van Dijk

Maarten van Dijk, a highly experienced management consultant in the energy sector, has joined Magnus Energy as Director. With Maarten on board, Magnus Energy further expands it consulting practice. What are his experiences after working for almost 20 years in both consulting and energy companies? And what kinds of projects will he be working on?  

Maarten, could you share a bit about your professional background?

After studying Technology Management, I started my career in consulting at Accenture. Soon, I focused on management consulting projects in the energy market. Later, I joined energy supplier Essent.  First working as an internal consultant and later taking on more management responsibilities in the commercial side of the company and in leading the business intelligence teams within Essent Operations. Four years ago – seeking the buzz of consulting amid the Covid-19 pandemic – I joined Sia Partners. There, I worked on multiple projects focused on supporting clients to turn strategy into execution. 

What kinds of projects are we talking about?

Most projects sit at the intersection of data and energy. One example is helping a European TSO set up a new flexibility trading platform for commercial parties. The ambition was to balance the electricity market by enabling energy producers, large industrial companies, and other TSOs to trade available flexibility. We helped turn this idea into a concept and plan that was ready for implementation. Today, this platform is being developed to accommodate hundreds of parties.  

I was also involved in a project setting up a benchmark to compare multiple Dutch energy suppliers on their forecasting accuracy. With the rapid growth of renewable energy sources, the companies wanted to improve their production forecasts. My team and I interviewed several suppliers and analysed large amounts of data related to the forecasted and realised production per 15 minutes per location. The benchmark provided valuable insights for improvements for all parties involved.    

Can you share another example?

Another one is a project for the Belgian national government to help stimulate the use of corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). These agreements can be a powerful tool to support investments and developments in renewable energy but are underutilised. We interviewed many producers, investors, and banks about this. What is preventing the market from using PPAs? Also, we looked at what measures the government could take to stimulate use.   

What is typically your role in these kinds of projects?  

I’d say my speciality is turning a company’s strategy – often involving energy data – into a solution that is ready to implement. Working together with people inside and outside the company. Since I have worked across the energy industry – from producers to suppliers to operators – I have a pretty good helicopter view and network.  

What will be your role at Magnus Energy?  

I will be responsible for strengthening our consulting team that supports clients in turning their business strategies into implementable solutions. The team of Magus Energy consists of many amazing experts. I’d love to work together with them and help even more clients even better.

What makes this sector such an interesting one to work in?  

I love the combination of the technicality of the energy sector and its impact on society. By working on the energy transition, I feel that my work has a positive contribution. n.

If you want to learn more about Maarten van Dijk and our management consulting services, reach out to Maarten via info@magnusenergy.com.