There are fewer safer bets than the necessary inevitability of the green energy transition. Fossil fuels are running out and the climate is facing an ever-worsening crisis.
But in recent times, conventional wisdom has been challenged as the environmental movement faces a number of setbacks. Oil and gas giants are reneging on promises to invest in renewables, banks are increasing investment in fossil fuels and governments across the world are scaling down, and even scrapping, climate commitments.
“Safety, compliance and quality are the top priority for us.”
Despite the resistance, Pooja Dhowan, Head of Service Commercial for the Asia–Pacific branch of wind energy giant Vestas, remains steadfast.
“There’s going to be a lot of challenges going forward, but renewable energy continues to grow despite all of the headwinds that we face,” she tells The CEO Magazine.
“I mean, it’s very clear. The world needs secure, affordable and sustainable energy right now more than ever, and wind is the only source that can deliver all three.”
Not only does the wind power provided by Vestas give hope that the climate crisis can be overcome, but it also promises to mitigate the energy security concerns held in many countries across the region – and the globe.
“Our company’s goal is to install greater capacity of wind power, to decarbonize and achieve the goals that the governments in each of the countries in the Asia–Pacific region have to achieve energy security.”
Regional leadership
It wouldn’t be possible for the company to set its sights on tackling such a complex and significant issue without having rock-solid foundations, which Dhowan ensures she keeps at the forefront of her focus.
“My leadership is grounded in terms of clarity and customer focus, ensuring we never lose sight of delivering values for those we serve,” she says.
“Ultimately, I want Vestas to be recognized as both a customer-centric and future-ready business to enable continuous and profitable growth in the Asia–Pacific.”
Working in such a diverse, multifaceted region requires a high degree of flexibility as well as a discerning eye for the variations of each national market.
“Every country is very different in terms of how it actually operates,” Dhowan explains. “The customer negotiations are very different, as is the way we actually work. So the adaptability of our teams to different cultures is also very important. We must listen to customers and draw strong local Vestas teams.”
“The world needs secure, affordable and sustainable energy right now more than ever, and wind is the only source that can deliver all three.”
Thankfully for Dhowan, she has the wealth of expertise to draw upon from Vestas’ other global operations.
“We also have a strong backing of Vestas, which is an extremely well-established business in other regions,” she says. “Not only are we tailoring to the local needs and policies, but we also have the learnings from the global expertise across every market, which benefits us but also customers.
“The way we differentiate ourselves is that we have the backing, knowledge and expertise of our global business, but at the same time we are nimble enough to actually tailor to the Asia–Pacific market and the individual countries within the Asia–Pacific, as they’re very distinctive.”
Although flexibility is second nature, there are elements of Vestas’ approach that are stubbornly non-negotiable, regardless of location.
“Safety, compliance and quality are the top priority for us. That is the absolute core of our business,” Dhowan says. “No matter what we do in terms of tailoring, we keep these three things at the top of our list of priorities.”
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Vestas South Korea takes a similarly studious approach to selecting its partners, such as Zenviron. Again, it ensures that it tailors to the requirements of each locality while maintaining its core global principles.
“Vestas values trusted global and local partners, but we are also very selective because of the safety and quality policies,” Dhowan says. “Our investors are big but nimble enough to adapt. Local people and their know-how are critical for us.”
For Dhowan, few things are more conducive to success than having the right people in the right places.
“Our in-house expertise is our greatest strength and we invest in building and keeping world-class talent,” she says. “Our strategic partnerships add to this, which include training providers that grow our future workforce.
“In this industry it’s extremely difficult to find the right people. And that’s what we have, and we are very proud of that. We’ve got the in-house talent and skills that are paramount to our service business.
“Not only are we financially capable and nimble, but we also focus a lot on the people side of our business.”
A liveable future
However, there is no time for Vestas to rest on its laurels. Dhowan knows that there is plenty of work still to be done.
“The next decade is crucial,” she says. “Wind must scale to sustainability, toward security needs and to affordability needs. Growth will bring investment, economic progress and local jobs across Asia–Pacific.
“The role of the government is going to be crucially important in reducing pollution through sustainable energy.”
“I would like to leave my child a world that is actually livable.”
Not only is she driven by her belief that Vestas is more than capable of guiding this transition in some of the world’s biggest economies, but also by her own personal attachment to the nobility of the cause.
“Vestas is committed to Asia–Pacific’s energy transition as a trusted partner delivering reliable services and lasting sustainability legacy,” she says.
“I really believe in what we’re doing. I believe in decarbonization, and I believe in leaving a better future for the next generation. I would like to leave my child a world that is actually livable.”
