The last few winters, the oil-fired power plant in Karlshamn has functioned as an electricity reserve, but that agreement expired last season. And ahead of the new procurement of electricity producers that would take on this task, new rules have applied, where the EU's state aid rules set limits. It simply cannot cost too much.
Three bidders submitted, all above the price ceiling, says Pontus de Maré, operations manager at Svenska Kraftnät.
"Very challenging"
Thus, Svenska Kraftnät is canceling the procurement of the electricity reserve, or strategic reserve as it is more precisely referred to.
Is it over now?
It will be very challenging to manage this until the coming winter, says Pontus de Maré.
According to him, the issue is now with the government and the EU to quickly try to fix the regulations.
Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch (KD) says on Tuesday that they are in dialogue with Svenska Kraftnät on how to address the matter.
It is SVK's task and I, as the responsible minister, will ensure that they also fulfill it, she says and adds to direct questions about the EU:
If there is a need for dialogue with the Commission, we will of course take it, but it is too early to say now.
Two hazardous scenarios
The reserve has been there over the years – a kind of insurance to prevent Svenska Kraftnät from being forced to take the drastic measure of shutting off the power in certain areas, according to Pontus de Maré.
What can now trigger such a situation?
There are two scenarios that are a bit hazardous, partly that it becomes extremely cold throughout Europe, no wind and limited import opportunities, partly that there are disruptions, says de Maré.
Such disruptions could, for example, be that one or two nuclear reactors break down, which is not at all unusual. It can also be unplanned disruptions in the power grid, according to de Maré.
The price soars
Now, the reserve is usually not necessary. The last time it was seriously connected was 2012, according to Svenska Kraftnät. And no manual shutdown has been needed, so far.
In the face of the risk of the electricity running out, the price will soar. At the same time, it can be the salvation to avoid a shutdown.
It will be the first signal for companies and the public to start adjusting their consumption, says Pontus de Maré.
The Social Democrats blame the government:
"The government has chosen this path regarding the strategic reserve. When it does not work, they must find solutions that make it work. We will therefore call Ebba Busch to the committee", writes S's energy policy spokesperson and member of the industry committee, Fredrik Olovsson, in a comment to TT.
