Emergency measures from SVK after wind power alarm
At the beginning of April received The wind power collective Nyvallsåsen an invoice of half a million kronor – To have produced more electricity than expected for a few hours during March.
Similar invoices landed with many electricity producers, especially within wind power, after Svenska Kraftnät (SVK) In the spring carried out several major changes in the electricity market.
The changes have mainly affected the so -called balance market, which aims to create stability in the electricity grid. If a power plant produces less or more electricity than expected, it needs to be compensated by any other player in order for the electricity grid to be in balance – for example by regulating hydropower production or slowing down wind turbines.
Previously, Norwegian Hydropower is often used for this, but due to SVK’s changes, balancing must be made more locally. In several parts of the country, however, the supply of balance power is low, which has led to sharply rising prices.
Several players, such as Vattenfall and the industry organization Energiföreten, have stated to DN that they had warned SVK for this to occur.
« They have not listened to our warnings, » says Magnus Thorstensson, responsible raw power market at the energy companies.
However, SVK is now taking several measures to try to reduce the risk of extreme price peaks in the balance market. The most important measure in the short term is an adjustment of an algorithm introduced in the balance market in March.
« It is expected to mitigate the effects with the extreme imbalance prices that we have seen, » says Anna Jäderström, section manager for balance markets at the authority.
SVK also calls More players to go in and sell balance power, to reduce prices. And according to Anna Jäderström, it is really the only long -term solution to the problem.
– We want to be clear with that. In order to get a long -term well -functioning market, supply needs to increase.
Are there many who have heard and been angry?
– It is clear that we have received reactions.
When you look in the rearview mirror, do you think this was stupid?
– No, I still think the change is motivated, we need to adapt to a more changing electrical system. But we are very humble for the fact that there is potential for improvement around both the solution and communication. There we could have done more.
The energy companies welcome that SVK takes action.
– It is good that SVK has come to the realization that this does not work without measures. Therefore, it is welcome that they act. But this has undoubtedly damaged the market’s confidence in SVK, says Magnus Thorstensson.
However, the two wind turbines on Nyvallsåsen will continue to stand still, says meteorologist Martin Hedberg, one of the park’s partners.
– It is good that SVK acts, but the power plants will have to stand still for a while. We need to analyze the extent to which SVK’s measures affect and change the risks, he says.
Read more:
Giant fines hit wind power companies – forced to turn off power plants
Swedish power grid: « We take the situation very seriously »
