The Swedish electricity system is undergoing major changes that can be characterized by four energy transitions. These are:
- The deregulation of the Swedish electricity market.
- A transition towards a green sustainable energy system.
- A development towards increased small-scale distributed systems such as photovoltaics.
- Electrification of the vehicle fleet and industrial processes.
These energy transitions increase the complexity of the electricity system, among other things because of an increasing number of stakeholders who can influence the electricity market in different ways and an increased share of variable electricity production. It is therefore essential to ensure that the resilience remains high so that the electricity system can cope with disturbances, also those with low probability and high impact.
Resilience is, simply explained, the ability to withstand and cope with change. Recover and further develop.
Previous disturbances
An example is the asymmetric shock that the Swedish electricity system was exposed to in the fall of 2022, which resulted in sharply increased electricity prices. Another example is the storm “Gudrun” that hit the south of Sweden in January 2005 and caused power outages for close to half a million people. This storm led to an extensive reconstruction of regional and local electricity networks to make the electricity system more resilient to future storms.
The aim of the project
A unique perspective
Resilience theory provides a unique perspective on the electricity system's ability to adapt and recover from disruptions. Unlike traditional risk management, it focuses on how systems can withstand unforeseen challenges, learn from past events, and grow stronger, offering valuable insights for enhancing the resilience of the electricity system.
Financial support
The project is financed by Polar Structure Initiative Foundation.
