2023-04-262022/23:NU9 · p.21NUBusiness & energy
Swedish national grid and connection of offshore wind power
What's at stake: The issue affects the pace of offshore wind power expansion and the grid capacity for it, which matters for Sweden's electrification and climate goals as well as for regions with growing electricity needs.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The vote concerns whether the Riksdag should specifically state that the work of connecting offshore wind power to the grid should continue, or whether the matter can be left without such a statement.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee sees no reason for the Riksdag to make a specific statement calling for the work of connecting offshore wind power to the grid to continue.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 25 (S, C, MP)
S, C and MP consider that the Riksdag should state that the planned work of connecting offshore wind power to the grid should continue, pointing to increased renewable electricity production — not least wind power — being crucial for electrification and for Sweden to reach net-zero emissions by 2045.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 25 by S, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/15 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 64/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects motion 2022/23:2112 by Fredrik Olovsson et al. (S) request 6.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2022/23:2112 av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 6.
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the Government's proposal on how the EU's electricity market directive regarding electricity supply and the so-called aggregation services shall be incorporated into Swedish legislation. The directive aims to adapt the electricity market to new conditions resulting from more decentralized electricity production from renewable sources and the phase-out of fossil fuels. The Government's proposal provides greater opportunity for electricity users to adjust electricity consumption when electricity prices are low or when the electricity network is heavily loaded. The proposal also includes changes to certain requirements for electricity suppliers and changes to the rules on switching electricity suppliers for small businesses. The Government, or the authority determined by the Government, shall also be able to determine rules regarding the information that electricity suppliers must provide to electricity users. Parliament decided in 2022 to incorporate those parts of the electricity market directive that concern network operations into Swedish legislation. The electricity market directive should have been fully incorporated into Swedish legislation by 31 December 2020. The European Commission has initiated an infringement proceeding against Sweden for late implementation of the electricity market directive. Parliament also approved an addition to the Government's proposal on a so-called rule-making authorization. Such authorization is needed for the Government to be able to determine rules on various administrative processes. For example, that network companies shall send notices to electricity suppliers when initiating or taking over electricity supply. Finally, parliament rejected 80 proposals from motions from the ordinary motion period 2022.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to revise the definition of imbalance in the legislative proposal to promote market access for aggregators and competition. (S, C, MP) — Reservation 25
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that electricity production increases significantly through government investments in renewable energy and that the state increases its control over the infrastructure that climate transition requires.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that electricity production increases significantly through government investments in renewable energy and that the state increases its control over the infrastructure that climate transition requires. The fact that work to connect offshore wind power to the power grid continues and is highlighted specially is exactly one such measure. The plan does not mention the connection work, but it establishes that wind power should benefit the municipality and nearby residents.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att elproduktionen ökar kraftigt genom statliga satsningar på förnybar energi och att staten ökar sin kontroll över den infrastruktur som klimatomställningen kräver. Att arbetet med att ansluta havsbaserad vindkraft till elnätet fortsätter och lyfts fram särskilt är just en sådan insats. Planen nämner inte anslutningsarbetet, men den slår fast att vindkraften ska gynna kommun och närboende.
- investments in renewable energydecisive»Produktionen av både el och exempelvis vätgas behöver öka kraftigt när vi ställer om från användning av fossila bränslen, därför behöver staten gå in med satsningar på förnybar energi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Production of both electricity and for example hydrogen needs to increase significantly as we transition from the use of fossil fuels, therefore the state needs to make investments in renewable energy.”
- state control over the power grid»Staten måste öka sin kontroll över infrastruktur och resurser som behövs för att genomföra klimatomställningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state must increase its control over infrastructure and resources needed to implement the climate transition.”
- wind power with local benefit»Vindkraften ska gynna både kommun och boende i närområdet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Wind power should benefit both the municipality and residents in the surrounding area.”
- publicly owned energy supply»är att samhällsägandet är starkt inom ekonomins nyckelsektorer:« (party programme ↗)“is that public ownership is strong in the key sectors of the economy:”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly states that offshore wind power can contribute considerable energy and that electricity production of all kinds shall be expanded, while at the same time the pace of electricity grid expansion shall at least double.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that offshore wind power can contribute considerable energy and that electricity production of all kinds shall be expanded, while at the same time the pace of electricity grid expansion shall at least double. The counter-proposal's requirement that work to connect offshore wind to the electricity grid continues and is highlighted is precisely this. The goal of a fossil-free welfare nation points the same way.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger uttryckligen att vindkraft långt ute till havs kan bidra med mycket energi och att elproduktionen av alla slag ska byggas ut, samtidigt som takten i elnätsutbyggnaden minst ska fördubblas. Motförslagets krav att arbetet med att ansluta havsbaserad vindkraft till elnätet fortsätter och lyfts fram är precis detta. Målet om en fossilfri välfärdsnation pekar samma väg.
- offshore wind powerdecisive»Vindkraft långt ute till havs kan bidra med mycket energi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Offshore wind power can contribute considerable energy.”
- faster electricity grid expansion»Riv de byråkratiska hindren för mer el. Långsamma tillståndsprocesser ska snabbas på. Vi vill minst fördubbla takten i utbyggnaden av elnätet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove bureaucratic obstacles to more electricity. Slow permitting processes shall be speeded up. We want to at least double the pace of electricity grid expansion.”
- expanded electricity production»Bygg ut elproduktionen av alla slag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expand electricity production of all kinds.”
- fossil-free welfare nation»Sverige ska bli världens första fossilfria välfärdsnation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become the world's first fossil-free welfare nation.”
The plan wants to rapidly expand wind power at sea throughout the country and simultaneously expand electricity grids and invest in a smart energy system.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to rapidly expand wind power at sea throughout the country and simultaneously expand electricity grids and invest in a smart energy system. That work on connecting offshore wind power to electricity grids continues and is highlighted particularly is thus precisely what the plan demands, since increased renewable electricity production is a prerequisite for electrification.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill bygga ut vindkraften till havs snabbt i hela landet och samtidigt bygga ut elnäten och satsa på ett smart energisystem. Att arbetet med att ansluta havsbaserad vindkraft till elnätet fortsätter och lyfts fram särskilt är därmed precis vad planen kräver, eftersom ökad förnybar elproduktion är förutsättningen för elektrifieringen.
- rapid expansion of offshore winddecisive»bygga ut vindkraften till havs snabbt i hela landet, med hänsyn till livet i havet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“expand wind power at sea rapidly throughout the country, with consideration for life in the sea.”
- expanded electricity grids»bygga ut elnäten, investera i energilager och satsa på ett smart energisystem.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“expand electricity grids, invest in energy storage and invest in a smart energy system.”
- 100 per cent renewable»energikrävande standard och dels måste produktionen av förnybar energi öka så att andelen blir« (party programme ↗)“energy-demanding standards and partly production of renewable energy must increase so the share becomes”
The election manifesto requires that at least 50 TWh of emission-free electricity is started to be built during the term, that the power grid is strengthened and expanded and that permitting for wind power is speeded up.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that at least 50 TWh of emission-free electricity is started to be built during the term, that the power grid is strengthened and expanded and that permitting for wind power is speeded up. That the work to connect offshore wind power to the grid continues is a direct prerequisite for that commitment. The plan's goal of Europe's green battery and one hundred per cent renewable energy points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att minst 50 TWh utsläppsfri el börjar byggas under mandatperioden, att elnätet rustas och byggs ut och att tillståndsprövningen för vindkraft snabbas upp. Att arbetet med att ansluta havsbaserad vindkraft till elnätet fortsätter är en direkt förutsättning för det åtagandet. Planens mål om Europas gröna batteri och hundra procent förnybar energi pekar i samma riktning.
- rapid expansion of wind powerdecisive»Minst 50 TWh utsläppsfri el måste börja byggas nästa mandatperiod. Det krävs en kriskommission för att snabbare öka Sveriges utsläppsfria elproduktion och tillstånd för vindkraft ska få ta max två år.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At least 50 TWh of emission-free electricity must be started to be built in the next term. It requires a crisis commission to more rapidly increase Sweden's emission-free electricity production and permits for wind power should take maximum two years.”
- Europe's green battery»Sverige ska bli Europas gröna batteri och exportera el till grannländer som fasar ut sitt fossilberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become Europe's green battery and export electricity to neighbouring countries that phase out their fossil fuel dependence.”
- faster permits»Det är dags att halvera tiden det tar att få tillstånd för gröna investeringar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is time to halve the time it takes to get permission for green investments”
- one hundred per cent renewable»Sverige har både möjlighet och skyldighet att inom mindre än en generation bli ett samhälle med hundra procent förnybar energi« (party programme ↗)“Sweden has both the opportunity and the obligation to become a society with one hundred per cent renewable energy within less than a generation”
The plan wants to build more solar and wind power throughout the country and invest in the power system, and it explicitly lifts a powerful increase in transmission capacity for new green power.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to build more solar and wind power throughout the country and invest in the power system, and it explicitly lifts a powerful increase in transmission capacity for new green power. That the work with connecting sea-based wind power to the power grid continues thereby lies in line with the plan, even though sea-based wind power is not mentioned particularly. The plan links this to the climate target of net zero emissions.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill bygga mer sol- och vindkraft i hela landet och investera i kraftsystemet, och den lyfter uttryckligen fram en kraftig förstärkning av överföringskapaciteten för ny grön el. Att arbetet med att ansluta havsbaserad vindkraft till elnätet fortsätter ligger därför i linje med planen, även om havsbaserad vindkraft inte nämns särskilt. Planen kopplar detta till klimatmålet om nettonollutsläpp.
- more wind power and network investmentsdecisive»Ska vi få ner elpriserna krävs att vi bygger inte bara kärnkraft utan också mer sol- och vindkraft i hela landet, investerar i kraftsystemet och satsar på energilagring.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“If we are to get down electricity prices we need to build not only nuclear power but also more solar and wind power throughout the country, invest in the power system and put resources to energy storage.”
- improved power transmission»en autobahn för all ny grön el som förbättrar överföringen i hela Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“an autobahn for all new green power that improves transmission in all of Sweden”
- net zero emissions 2045»Vi ska nå klimatmålen – inga nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser senast 2045 och därefter negativa utsläpp – inom ramen för en växande ekonomi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall reach the climate targets – no net emissions of greenhouse gases no later than 2045 and thereafter negative emissions – within the framework of a growing economy.”
- expanded renewable energy»förnybara energislag, bland annat vindkraft, solenergi, biogas och vågkraft.« (party programme ↗)“renewable energy forms, among other things wind power, solar power, biogas and wave power.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's decisive commitment is that nuclear power shall be the base with long-term conditions, while wind power can only be a complement and be expanded with respect for local democracy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that nuclear power shall be the base with long-term conditions, while wind power can only be a complement and be expanded with respect for local democracy. Specifically highlighting offshore wind power as decisive for electrification goes against that prioritization. The plan puts supply security and fixed rules ahead of expansion of weather-dependent production.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att kärnkraften ska vara basen med långsiktiga villkor, medan vindkraften bara kan vara ett komplement och byggas ut med respekt för lokal demokrati. Att särskilt lyfta fram havsbaserad vindkraft som avgörande för elektrifieringen går emot den prioriteringen. Planen sätter försörjningstrygghet och fasta spelregler före utbyggnad av väderberoende produktion.
- wind power only complementdecisive»Vindkraft kan dock bara vara ett komplement.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Wind power can, however, only be a complement.”
- nuclear power as base»Satsa på kärnkraften med långsiktiga villkor att utvecklas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in nuclear power with long-term conditions to develop.”
- local democracy in wind power»Bygg ut vindkraften men med respekt för den lokala demokratin« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expand wind power but with respect for local democracy”
- supply security first»Sveriges energiförsörjning ska tryggas genom en långsiktig energipolitik med fasta spelregler« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's energy supply shall be secured through a long-term energy policy with fixed rules”
Worldstate weighed in: Germany shuts down its last three nuclear power reactors — underscores the plan's requirement for predictable power ahead of weather-dependent production
The plan's energy line is that the goal should change from 100 per cent renewable to 100 per cent fossil-free and that new nuclear power, not weather-dependent production, should carry electricity supply.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's energy line is that the goal should change from 100 per cent renewable to 100 per cent fossil-free and that new nuclear power, not weather-dependent production, should carry electricity supply. The counter-proposal, by contrast, is built on the belief that increased renewable electricity production, not least wind power, is crucial and wants to highlight offshore wind's grid connection particularly. That prioritisation contradicts the plan's stated scepticism towards production that is dependent on weather and wind, even though the plan wants to expand the grid.
Original (Swedish)
Planens energilinje är att målet ska ändras från 100 procent förnybart till 100 procent fossilfritt och att ny kärnkraft, inte väderberoende produktion, ska bära elförsörjningen. Motförslaget bygger tvärtom på att ökad förnybar elproduktion, inte minst vindkraft, är avgörande och vill lyfta fram havsvindens nätanslutning särskilt. Den prioriteringen strider mot planens uttalade skepsis mot produktion som är beroende av väder och vind, även om planen vill bygga ut elnätet.
- plannable power over weather-dependentdecisive(2022 manifesto)
- fossil-free not renewable»Ändra det energipolitiska målet från 100 procent förnybart till 100 procent fossilfritt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Change the energy policy goal from 100 per cent renewable to 100 per cent fossil-free”
- nuclear power central»kommer en utbyggnad av kärnkraften att vara helt central« (2022 manifesto ↗)“an expansion of nuclear power will be absolutely central”
- expanded grid»Investera i det svenska elnätet och korta tillståndsprocesserna för elnätsutbyggnad« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in the Swedish electricity grid and shorten permit procedures for grid expansion”
flags: citat_ej_verifierat
The plan explicitly prioritizes marine and water environment over extensive wind power expansion and criticizes that the power system has been made weather-dependent through strong expansion of wind power.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly prioritizes marine and water environment over extensive wind power expansion and criticizes that the power system has been made weather-dependent through strong expansion of wind power. Instead, plannable fossil-free electricity production, above all nuclear power, should be expanded and the municipal veto against wind power should be protected. Specifically highlighting continued connection of offshore wind power therefore conflicts with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen prioriterar uttryckligen havs- och vattenmiljön framför omfattande vindkraftsutbyggnad och kritiserar att kraftsystemet gjorts väderberoende genom kraftig utbyggnad av vindkraften. I stället ska planerbar fossilfri elproduktion, framför allt kärnkraft, byggas ut och det kommunala vetot mot vindkraft värnas. Att särskilt lyfta fram fortsatt anslutning av havsbaserad vindkraft strider därför mot planen.
- marine environment before wind powerdecisive»Vår havs- och vattenmiljö måste prioriteras tydligare framför ett allt för intensivt fiske och omfattande vindkraftsutbyggnad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our marine and water environment must be prioritized more clearly over overly intensive fishing and extensive wind power expansion.”
- municipal veto against wind power»Värna det kommunala vetot vid etablering av vindkraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect the municipal veto when establishing wind power”
- criticism of weather-dependent system»Där man uteslutande omvandlat kraftsystemet till att bli väderberoende med en kraftig utbyggnad av vindkraften.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where the power system has been transformed exclusively to become weather-dependent with a strong expansion of wind power.”
- plannable electricity production»Sverige behöver satsa på planerbar och fossilfri elproduktion.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs to invest in plannable and fossil-free electricity production.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:NU9)
- Committee report full text (HA01NU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1078 — Elpriser av Camilla Brunsberg (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1235 — Omställning till förnybar energiförsörjning av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1340 — Elpriser av Lars Mejern Larsson och Mikael Dahlqvist (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1346 — Säkerhet i drift och underhåll av elnät av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1352 — Ödrift av Sofie Eriksson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1360 — Energipolitik för hela landet av Joakim Sandell m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1405 — Anslutning av Gotland till stamnätet för el av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1424 — Energi av Adnan Dibrani och Jennie Nilsson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1588 — Snabbare tillståndsprocess av Sofia Amloh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1629 — Mer solenergi av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1656 — Modernisering av ellagen av Anders Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1672 — En levande landsbygd för Sveriges bästa av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1792 — Elkrisens påverkan på Skåne av Ulrika Heindorff m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2062 — En politik för ekonomisk resiliens och stärkt konkurrenskraft av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:207 — Utbyggnation av stamnätet i hela landet av Helena Lindahl och Anne-Li Sjölund (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:2112 — El- och energiförsörjning för ökad tillväxt och välstånd av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2165 — Möjliggörande av krav på flexibilitet för elanslutning av Marielle Lahti m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2175 — En klimatpolitik som står upp för Parisavtalet av Per Bolund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2190 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2262 — Stärk det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
Source: The Swedish Parliament