SMART GRID
FOR A SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY SOCIETY
Sweden has set ambitious targets for its energy and climate policy, an example
being the goal that in 2020 half the energy we use will come from renewable
sources. By 2030 our vision is that Sweden will have a fossil fuel-independent
fleet of vehicles. Altogether, this will present new challenges to our power grid.
To reach these goals we will have to be smarter in our use of energy.
FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD
Smart Grid makes it possible to utilise more solar and wind energy
Sweden has the potential to become a pioneer in the use of Smart Grid.
We have a deregulated, well-developed electricity market with environmentally
aware customers. We have great know-how and a well-developed IT infrastructure. Virtually all Swedish households already have smart electricity meters,
meaning meters with advanced features such as remote reading and control.
That is by far more than in most other EU countries.
In other words, Sweden is ready to start utilising and developing user-friendly
services in the power grid, contributing to smarter energy solutions.
Smart Grid can become a Swedish growth sector.
Smart Grid makes it possible to develop new products and services
The difference between a traditional grid and a Smart Grid is similar to the
difference between television and the Internet. In traditional grids power
is transmitted from a power plant to various recipients, in the same way as
transmissions from a television mast.
Smart Grid, similar to the Internet, opens up the possibility of information
traveling in two directions. Households or industries can receive advanced
information on their consumption, and can act on the basis of the information
they receive, for example to save energy.
Communication between producers and consumers of power not only makes
it possible to control production, but also enables customers to control their
demand for electricity based on costs, for example.
Electricity à la carte, you might say.
COMMUNICATIVE
Smart Grid enhances customers’ options
So through Smart Grid our electrical network is able to communicate with your
home. In purely practical terms, this may mean that if there is a risk of the grid
being overloaded, a Smart Grid can request that our water heaters stop heating
for a few minutes. In individual homes little, if anything, will be noticed but for
the grid it makes a difference if hundreds of thousands of water heaters are not
running at maximum power at the same time.
With Smart Grid, consumers can also communicate with their homes, which
various IT solutions also make possible. We will be able to control lamps, radiators and household appliances remotely for a smarter home.
But Smart Grid does not just make two-way communication possible – the possibility of two-way distribution is also improved. Those who have solar panels on their
roofs, for example, can more easily feed the power they generate into the system.
Consumers can also become producers.
DUAL DIRECTION
Smart Grid enhances flexibility and enables quick problem solving in the grid and in the energy system
Smart Grid makes it possible to utilise the flexibility that already exists in the
electricity system but is not used today. For example, it makes it possible to
balance consumption and production of electricity more effectively. Flexibility
is also enhanced with the use of energy storage: it becomes easier, for instance,
to harness the electricity produced by wind turbines on windy days and use the
stored energy on days when there is no wind. And when more renewable energy
can be used, carbon emissions can be reduced.
Flexibility creates new ways of adapting supply and demand to each other in
a smarter way.
FLEXIBLE
Smart Grid contributes to flexibility being of value to everyone, based on their own circumstances and needs
Efforts from many different actors are needed if we are to attain a sustainable
energy society with Smart Grid. The Swedish public sector needs to spread
knowledge of Smart Grid, develop the regulatory framework and facilitate
collaboration between different players. R&D efforts need to be coordinated.
Furthermore, issues of privacy and IT and information security need to be
resolved at an early stage.
Companies need to develop new functions and user-friendly services
demanded by customers for the Smart Grid.
If there are services that can benefit customers, Smart Grid can be of benefit
to society.
INTERACTING
Smart Grid gives customers greater control of consumption and help in smarter use of energy
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
MARIA KHORSAND
BO NORMARK
JONAS ABRAHAMSSON
LINA BERTLING TJERNBERG
CEO, SP TECHNICAL
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
OF SWEDEN
SENIOR ADVISER,
POWER CIRCLE
CEO, E.ON SWEDEN
PROFESSOR IN ELECTRIC
GRID SYSTEMS,
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY KTH
CHAIR OF COORDINATION
COUNCIL
DEPUTY CHAIR OF
COORDINATION COUNCIL
ERIK BRANDSMA
BO DAHLBOM
ANN-MARIE FRANSSON
ANNE VADASZ-NILSSON
DIRECTOR-GENERAL,
SWEDISH ENERGY AGENCY
PROFESSOR AND
HEAD OF RESEARCH,
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
DIRECTOR, SWEDISH IT
& TELECOM INDUSTRIES
DIRECTOR GENERAL,
SWEDISH ENERGY
MARKETS INSPECTORATE
JAKUB GUBANSKI
BO HESSELGREN
PIA BRÜHL-HJORT
CHRISTINA MALM
BUSINESS DEVELOPER,
SMART GRIDS, ABB
CEO, SWEDISH CONSUMER
ENERGY MARKETS BUREAU
CEO, TROLLHÄTTAN ENERGI
DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL,
NATIONAL DEFENCE
RADIO ESTABLISHMENT
MIKAEL ODENBERG
CARIN TORSTENSSON
ULF WAHLBERG
DIRECTOR-GENERAL,
SVENSKA KRAFTNÄT
(SWEDISH NATIONAL GRID)
HEAD OF BUSINESS
AREA SMART ENERGY,
INTERACTIVE INSTITUTE
SWEDISH ICT
VICE PRESIDENT,
INDUSTRY AND RESEARCH
RELATIONS ERICSSON
The Swedish Coordination Council for Smart Grid was appointed by the
government in May 2012. The Council’s overall role is to encourage, inform
and plan for the development of a Smart Grid that contributes to more
effective and more sustainable energy use.
The Council’s objectives are to establish clear ground rules in the market and
greater influence for customers, assist towards Smart Grid becoming a
Swedish growth sector and create favorable conditions for the development
of Smart Grid in Sweden. The Council’s assignment also includes the creation
of a website, a national knowledge platform on Smart Grid.
The Council has 15 members from authorities, organisations, the business
community and various research settings. The Council has identified primary
focal areas that are particularly significant for the development of Smart Grid.
There are also several teams of experts linked to the Council to make
collaboration easier with stakeholders and organisations providing expertise in
various areas.
THE COUNCIL IS TO PRESENT TO THE GOVERNMENT ITS PROPOSAL
FOR A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR SMART GRID BY DECEMBER 2014
Smart Grid enables sustainable energy use
Swedish Government Offices
Swedish Coordination Council for Smart Grid (N 2012:03)
Kv. Garnisonen, 103 33 Stockholm
Office address: Karlavägen 100A
Production: Swedish Coordination Council for Smart Grid, Swedish Government Offices • Concept and design: Gullers Grupp AB • Photography: Jørgen Reimer • Printing: Elanders Sverige AB, October, 2013
WE ARE A UNIFIED FORCE FOR A SMARTER ENERGY SOCIETY.
WE ENCOURAGE, INFORM AND PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SMART GRID
THAT CONTRIBUTES TO CUSTOMER EMPOWERMENT AND MORE EFFICIENT
AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY USE.