Rules concerning the connection of a new producer to the grid
The local grid operator is statutorily obliged to connect electricity-generating plants and installations to the grid. RES is not given priority.
Electricity Act, chapter 4:
The holder of a network concession must, on objective, non-discriminatory and otherwise reasonable terms, connect an electrical installation to the line or the line network, if the holder of the electrical installation requests that it be connected. In the case of local networks, the obligation to connect only applies to facilities within the concession area. Law (2022:596).
Derogations from the obligation according to § 1 may be made if
1. there is a lack of available capacity, and there are no conditions to remedy the lack of capacity in a way that is economically justified without strengthening the management or the management network, or
2. there are other special reasons.
A network company that has refused to connect a facility to a line or a network of lines because of a lack of capacity must, against reasonable compensation, provide the one who requests it with information on what measures are required for the connection to be carried out.
If someone wants to connect an electrical installation to a regional or transmission network instead of to the local network, the holder of the regional or transmission network may connect the installation only if
1. the owner of the local network has agreed to it, or
2. the network authority (Energy Market Inspectorate) has granted permission for the connection following application by the holder of the regional or transmission grid. Law (2022:596). The network authority may grant such a permit only if there are special reasons. Law (2022:596).
A network company must carry out the connection within a reasonable time from the time it receives a request for connection.
The fee for connecting to a line or a network of lines must be designed to cover the network concession holder's reasonable costs for the connection.
Rules for connecting RES and storage to the grid
For the facilities with the renewable electricity production with the capacity of no more than 43,5 kW the distribution network company may deviate from the connection obligation only if
1. the company notifies the person requesting the connection of this, and
2. the notification is given within one month of the company receiving the request.
There is a separate rule regarding the connection fee for RES according to the Electricity Act, chapter 4, 10 §. If, according to an agreement with a grid company, the government has financed measures that are necessary to increase the capacity of the grid to facilitate the connection of facilities for the production of renewable electricity, the fee for connection must be calculated so that the one who wants to connect a facility reimburses the network company's costs for such measures in the part that corresponds to the facility's share of the total capacity increase.
For RES connection to the network when the network reinforcement is required, there is a possibility to apply for a loan, according to the Ordinance (2015:213) on loans to network companies to facilitate the connection of renewable electricity production. According to the regulation, and subject to the availability of funds, Svenska kraftnät may grant loans to network companies to facilitate the connection of plants for the production of renewable electricity to the network.
When assessing whether a network reinforcement loan should be granted, special consideration must be given:
1. if the network reinforcement is done in an area which, due to wind direction or other circumstances from an energy point of view, is particularly suitable for renewable electricity production,
2. if the network reinforcement contributes to a more efficient use of the electricity grid, and
3. how large the electricity production is expected to be from the facilities that will be connected as a result of the grid reinforcement.
In order to be able to apply for a loan, certain conditions must be fulfilled, which are specified in Art 4.
There are now specific rules for connection of energy storage. According to 4 chapter 6 § of Electricity Act, network companies must have standardised procedures for connection of production facilities and energy storage facilities in order to enable fast and safe connection.
According to Ch. 3, § 39 of the Electricity Act, a network company may not own, develop, manage or operate an energy storage facility. In individual cases, the Energy Market Inspectorate may grant an exemption from the ban on network companies owning, developing, managing or operating an energy storage facility. The network authority may grant exemptions in individual cases from the prohibition in § 39.
The holder of a "line grid concession" (i.e., the grid operator) is obliged to connect renewable energy plants on reasonable terms unless there are special reasons (Chapter 3 art 6–7, Electricity Act). According to the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate, the grid operator is not obliged to connect plants to the grid if grid capacity is insufficient. Applicants have to submit an application for connection to the grid operator (Chapter 4 Art 12, Electricity Act). The DSO/TSO is obliged to process the connection applications within a reasonable period of time (Chapter 4 Art 11, Electricity Act). Both parties then sign a grid connection agreement. The plant operator bears the costs of connection by paying the network tariff to the grid operator (Chapter 4 Art 1 and 5, Electricity Act). The holder of a line network concession (i.e., the grid operator) is obliged to provide all information on their network tariff (including the terms and conditions for connection) on request within a reasonable period of time (Chapter 4 Art 11, Electricity Act). Plants/installations with a maximum capacity of 1.5 MW are subject to a reduced tariff (Chapter 4 Art 10, Electricity Act).
Specifications for islands, isolated grids, microgrids, local grids, etc.
Exceptions
According to the Ordinance (2007:215) on exemption from the requirement for a network concession according to the Electricity Act (1997:857) § 22 and § 24, an internal low-voltage network for the transmission of electricity from a facility that produces electricity or from an energy storage facility may, if the facility is directly connected to the internal low-voltage network and the low-voltage network is not an overhead line, be built and operated without a network concession.
1. within the network operator's property, and
2. between buildings and facilities that each also have a connection to a line or a grid that is used with the support of a network concession. Ordinance (2022:1391).
On such an internal low-voltage grid, an electricity transfer on behalf of someone else may take place even if the buildings and facilities have different owners.
Possibilities to differentiate RES in scale and technology?
Swedish legislation does not address this possibility.