Sweden’s power grid operator Svenska kraftnät has signed an eight-year contract worth 6.5 billion Swedish kronor. The deal covers maintenance and upgrades for the national electricity transmission network. This follows years of debate about whether Sweden needs such large investments amid stagnant power demand.
The agreement comes despite forecasts showing little growth in electricity consumption over the next decade. Sweden’s energy agency predicted demand would rise only slightly through 2030. Yet Svenska kraftnät argues the upgrades are necessary to prevent outages and integrate more renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
The contract includes work on high-voltage lines and substations across the country. Engineers will focus on reinforcing aging infrastructure in southern Sweden, where most of the population lives. The project will also improve connections to neighboring countries to support cross-border power trading.
Svenska kraftnät confirmed the deal with its main contractor in a statement on Tuesday. The company did not disclose the contractor’s name but said construction would begin next summer. Completion is scheduled for 2032.
Critics question the timing, citing Sweden’s recent shift to lower energy use. Industrial production has declined in some sectors, reducing overall demand. Supporters, however, say the investments will modernize the grid for future needs.
Source: tu.no