Sweden Lowers Winter Power Shortage Risk

Swedish TSO Svenska Kraftnat has lowered the risk of power outages for the next four winters from a year ago as power demand is estimated to increase at a slower rate, while the expansion of the power grid will raise north-south transmission capacity, the TSO said today.

• Slightly less import dependency is anticipated during peak load hours this winter compared to the previous – albeit still significant at around 1.3GW.
  
• But a cold winter or transmission restrictions from northern-southern Sweden could lead to greater imports from neighbouring countries.
• The TSO has a power reserve agreement for 562MW of the 662MW Karlshamnsverket oil power plant over the 2024-25 winter, although this agreement will end after 15 March 2025.
• “Since we [still see] risk of a power shortage in the coming years, we want to replace today's power reserve with a strategic reserve but with the same purpose,” Svenska Kraftnat said.