Anne Vadasz Nilsson graduated as a lawyer from the University of Uppsala, Sweden in 1993. Upon leaving University, she worked as legal advisor at the Swedish Energy Regulator until 2000 when she joined the Swedish Competition Authority. At the Competition Authority she has held various positions, most recently as Deputy Director General. In 2013 she was appointed Director General of the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate for a term of six years. She is also since 2014 a member of the Board of the Swedish Telecom and Post regulator.
1. What are the key measures that Sweden will implement to achieve the goal of 100% renewable energy production by 2040? How will this goal impact Sweden’s electricity market and grid stability?
Sweden’s energy mix consists to a large extent of hydropower (47%) and nuclear (34%), some biomass/thermal (9%) and lately also large scale wind power (10%). The latter is growing fast. A new broad political agreement, the Energy Policy Agreement, has set a 100 % renewables target by 2040. However, according to the agreement, the target is not a deadline for banning nuclear power or a political agreement to close down nuclear power plants through political decisions.
The agreement foresees that the target can be achieved due to the fact that Sweden has very good conditions for renewable electricity production. Efficient use of existing hydropower and bioenergy could help increase the power output. The connection fees for marine-based wind power plants to the national grid will be abolished and the support scheme for renewables, the electricity certificate system, will be extended and expanded by 18 TWh until 2030.
The agreement is a stepwise approach as it also elevates the tax on thermal effect for nuclear power plants and lowers tax on hydro power. This means that the transition will go smoother and that we will have time to adjust since nuclear will probably be phased out gradually when it becomes too old or too expensive to run. There is, however, already a need to further look into market design issues such as how demand side response can play a more important role in the future, as well as how we can increase and make more efficient use of the existing and upcoming interconnectors to other EU member states.
2. What are Ei’s key priorities in regulating Sweden’s energy market?
Ei is a supervisory authority for the energy markets, which means that we are working for secure and efficient access to electricity, natural gas and district heating. Our role involves both regulating monopoly operations in the electricity and natural gas networks as well as monitoring the competitive energy markets (production and sales of electricity and gas). Our work contributes to reliable networks, well-functioning energy markets and consumer awareness.
Our priorities at the moment are, apart from our normal supervisory tasks, to suggest new rules for a Nordic harmonised end-user market and to suggest new rules and incentives to increase demand side response.
3. What should energy regulators do to promote greater integration of energy markets? How will this contribute towards a low-carbon future?
Greater integration of energy markets is one of the keys to cope with the new realities of more variable production, as well as to introduce more renewables. Regulators have, for example, an important role to play in making sure that methods for congestion management and bidding zone configuration are in line with well-functioning markets in cross border trade. Apart from promoting interconnectors, regulators can also exchange best practices on how to find market models that promote consumer activity and smart grids, so that the transition towards a more sustainable system can proceed or even increase.
4. How can regulators work together with the utility sector to meet the challenges brought about by the introduction of new disruptive energy technologies?
For regulators, it is in general very important to exchange views and work closely with the industry when making suggestions for changes in different regulations and decisions. Interaction with the industry helps to make sure that rules and decisions have the right level of details and that they are neutral to different technologies. The industry can also help to identify barriers to new technology, as well as give feedback on suggestions regarding different incentives in network regulation. The above mentioned also goes for dialogue with the customer side.
5. What are your thoughts on the SIEW 2016 theme “New Energy Realities”?
I am looking forward to SIEW 2016 and the discussions during the conference! The theme is very timely as this is widely discussed in Sweden, in the Nordics and also globally. I hope to be able to share some perspectives from my region but also to learn more about how these issues are tackled in other countries and regions.