Sweden's electricity grid is one of the country's most critical — and underutilized — assets. It is the backbone of society and a prerequisite for the electrification of our economy and Europe’s competitiveness. To drive that conversation forward, Ingrid co-hosted a seminar in the Swedish Parliament together with Jesper Skalberg Karlsson, Moderate Party, and Rickard Nordin, Centre Party, bringing together voices from industry, politics, and the energy sector.
Where the system gets stuck
Sweden's grid is already capable of more. Panelists estimated that at least 20% additional capacity sits locked inside existing infrastructure — waiting to be unlocked through smarter management and better incentives. The grid isn't full. The opportunity is.But innovation is outpacing regulation. Today's model rewards grid companies for building new cables, not for using what they already have more intelligently. The result: a system that moves too slowly for the economy it's meant to power.The cost of delay is concrete. PostNord, targeting a fully emission-free vehicle fleet by 2030, identified grid constraints as a key obstacle. Grid connection applications can take up to four months just to receive a case handler — before any assessment begins. For companies with long investment horizons, that uncertainty is a blocker.
Inspiration from other countries
The solutions exist and are proven. The Netherlands unlocked around 50% more grid capacity through flexible connection agreements — no new cables, just smarter contracts. France publishes monthly capacity maps; Estonia offers real-time grid data. Both allow businesses to make location decisions without lengthy applications. Sweden, despite having a world-class electricity system, keeps much of this data behind closed doors.
A message to policymakers
The potential is significant and largely within reach. The seminar surfaced some priority areasReform the regulatory model. A shift toward a Totex model — recognizing operational improvements alongside capital investment — is essential. Grid companies must be able to benefit financially from doing more with less.Mandate capacity transparency. Open data and capacity maps are standard practice in several peer countries. Publishing them would immediately reduce friction for businesses and allow the market to work more efficiently.Own the communication. Power tariffs and flexible agreements require public trust to work. That narrative cannot be left to energy companies alone — politicians need to be part of telling the story.Sweden has everything it needs to lead: a strong electricity system, abundant production, and clear climate ambitions. The solutions exist, they are proven, and they are already working in markets close to our own. What is needed now is the political will to move, the regulatory reform to enable it, and the cross-sector collaboration to make it stick.
