ABB has agreed to acquire Netcontrol, a Finnish provider of electrical grid automation software, as the Swiss engineering group seeks to expand its offerings to utilities grappling with rising power demand and the growing complexity of electricity networks.
The deal, announced today, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed. Netcontrol, which is headquartered in Helsinki and employs about 100 people, was founded in 1991 and is owned by Procuritas Partners, a Swedish Private Equity fund.
Electricity grids are facing mounting strain as electrification accelerates, renewable generation expands, and extreme weather events become more frequent. Electricity is expected to account for 50% of global energy consumption by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency, heightening the need for more digitalised and automated networks.
ABB said Netcontrol’s grid automation software would strengthen its Distribution Solutions business, helping utilities manage increasingly complex power flows while maintaining reliability and resilience. The combined portfolio is expected to create growth opportunities in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, supported by ABB’s global sales and service network.
“The electrical grid is becoming the bottleneck of the energy transition,” said Adrian Guggisberg, Division President, ABB Distribution Solutions. He added that utilities required greater digitalisation and automation to keep networks stable and flexible as new loads, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, are connected.
Sami Kurunsaari, Chief Executive Officer of Netcontrol, said joining ABB would allow the company to scale its technology globally while continuing to invest in products and services for existing customers. Following completion, Netcontrol’s products and services are expected to be integrated into ABB’s Distribution Solutions portfolio and sold through ABB’s global channels.
