The very mild December weather in large parts of Sweden so far has been positive for the electricity supply.
We have a lot of electric heating in Sweden in the form of heat pumps, but also direct-acting electricity, so you see that electricity use goes up when it gets cold, says Maria Westrin, head of unit for energy markets at the Swedish Energy Agency.
Now it looks like it will continue to be above normal temperatures all the way until Christmas, which will dampen demand.
Stable mode
In early autumn, Svenska Kraftnät announced that Sweden was without a strategic electricity reserve, as the contract with the oil-fired power plant in Karlshamn had expired and the procurement of a new one had been forced to be cancelled. If it were to get really cold, there was a sudden risk that there would not be enough electricity.
But so far the situation is stable.
"We have a good level of filling in our water reservoirs, which means we have a lot of water available in the Nordic region as a whole. We also have good availability of nuclear power in Europe and the Nordic region," she says, adding:
In Sweden, two nuclear power plants are currently out of operation, but they are planned to be put back into operation during the week.
New procurement
In addition, it has been a windier period, which increases wind power production. Unforeseen events can always occur, admits Maria Westrin, but adds that it would take several things happening at the same time for stability to be affected.
"If it were to get very cold at the same time as one or more large facilities are out of operation, then it would have a different impact. But that doesn't necessarily mean there would be an electricity shortage, but rather that you would end up with a situation with high prices," she says.
Svenska Kraftnät announced in early December that a procurement for a new power reserve is underway and that it is hoped that one will be in place by January 15.
