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Quick Take: KEMA has grown along with the smart grid. By joining with DNV it will now be able to expand past the consulting engineering and testing into adjacent areas of process consulting and sustainability consulting. As a result, it is more likely to bump into other "full-line" consultancies such as Accenture, CapGemini and IBM. - By Jesse Berst

The new company, DNV KEMA, will include all of KEMA's 1,800 employees and 500 employees from DNV's renewable energy and sustainability business. KEMA CEO Thijs Aarten will lead the new operation, which will be headquartered in Arnhem, the Netherlands.

KEMA and DNV are very complementary in both their goals and vision for a sustainable, reliable and clean energy future. As many readers know, KEMA's history includes a strong smart grid presence. DNV KEA will provide services in a variety of sectors, including wind energy, carbon capture and storage, carbon trading, energy efficiency, power generation, transmission and distribution, and energy-related testing, inspection and certification.

"By joining forces, 2,300 experts will meet the needs of an industry in rapid transition and growth. The combination of cleaner fossil fuel-based power generation and the increased use of renewables will truly make a global impact," said Leif Arne Langoy, chairman of DNV's board of directors. "This is the strategic rationale behind DNV's biggest investment ever which, along with DNV's other 8,000 employees engaged in supporting our maritime, oil and gas and other customers, makes DNV a leading global player in third party and technical advisory roles."

KEMA's Aarten commented "In DNV, we have found a solid, innovative and international partner that has the same strategic vision, purpose and values as our company. For decades, KEMA has been a highly respected global energy consultant and provider of energy-related testing, inspection and certification services. Both KEMA and DNV have strong traditions as independent leading players with world class technical and business knowledge and growth ambitions."

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Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com. He consults to smart grid companies seeking market entry advice and M&A advisory. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the US and abroad, he also serves on the Advisory Council of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Energy & Environment directorate.

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