The great northern grid stand-off
20 December 2024
Spikes in electricity prices in Norway and Sweden over the past few weeks have prompted the energy ministers of both countries to direct sharp criticism towards Germany for causing the rise.
Sweden’s energy minister, Ebba Busch, told Swedish broadcaster SVT last week that she was “furious with the Germans” for not considering how their phase-out of nuclear power would affect other countries. Usually, German nuclear power could be used to compensate when weak winds lower the supply of wind energy in the country. The phase-out no longer allows this, meaning Swedish electricity is exported to fill the gap. This takes from the available supply in Sweden and sends prices soaring for the Swedes.
In Norway, this has caused several political parties to once again seriously consider whether to disconnect themselves from the two energy cables connecting them to Denmark – a move Busch warned the Norwegians against, because it could cause ripple effects across Europe, which has closely interconnected energy grids.
Both ministers agree that Germany should split its electricity price zones, so German electricity prices would vary across the country instead of the current system of a country-wide electricity price. This means that high electricity prices across Germany rub off on the two Scandinavian countries. Busch is now trying to push Germany to reorganise their electricity market, by promising to revisit stalled discussions on a new subsea power cable between the two countries.
 | Amalie Holmgaard Mersh Interconnected grids have many benefits, ensuring that European countries can support each other's national supplies. According to expert Henrik Møller Jørgensen, the criticism of Germany is just, but only half of the story, as Norway and Sweden also reap the benefits of plummeting electricity prices when other countries produce large amounts of, for example, wind and solar power. |
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.