Ei RFG Undantagskriterier (2017)
Source details
- Type
- Regulation
- Publisher
- Ei
- Published
- 2017-02-02
Ei decision 2016-100304, dated 2017-02-02 — Energimarknadsinspektionens criteria for granting derogations from requirements in EU Regulation 2016/631 (RFG). Ei is required by RFG Article 61 to establish, publish, and notify the European Commission of the criteria it will use when deciding whether to grant derogations under Articles 62–63.
Diarienummer: 2016-100304
Legal basis: RFG Art. 61 (obligation on NRA to specify derogation criteria)
Derogation application basis: RFG Arts. 60.1, 62–63
Decision-maker: Generaldirektör Anne Vadasz Nilsson
Sent to: European Commission (DG Energy), Energi- och miljödepartementet
Summary
RFG allows derogations from its requirements where exceptional local conditions justify them — for instance, where strict compliance would endanger local grid stability, or where safe operation of a generating unit requires conditions incompatible with the regulation (Recital 28, Art. 60). NRAs must specify and publish the criteria they will apply to such derogation requests.
Ei conducted a public consultation (September 2016 open meeting and bilateral discussions with Svenska kraftnät) before establishing seven criteria. Attendees included producers, an industry representative and Energiföretagen; Ei also held a dialogue with the other Nordic NRAs and, via ACER, other European NRAs. The decision states that all actors who submitted views were positive to the adjusted criteria and that all accepted them at consultation.
The criteria are to be weighed together (“vägas samman”) when assessing an application under Arts. 62–63. Ei describes them as overarching criteria (“övergripande kriterier”) that leave room for local conditions of an exceptional nature.
The seven criteria
| # | Criterion | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physical location in the network | Grid strength varies. A generator in an already-weak part of the network increases the risk that compliance with RFG requirements would destabilise the local grid or harm neighbouring networks |
| 2 | Voltage at the connection point (kV) | Higher connection voltage = wider potential impact on system stability. Low-voltage connections limit any problem to local level; transmission-level connections can propagate disturbances across Sweden and into the Nordic system |
| 3 | Maximum continuous power (MW) | Size matters: a 3 MW unit affects the grid far less than a 300 MW unit. Size affects the grid to different degrees |
| 4 | Generator type | Whether the kraftproduktionsmodul is synchronous or not determines how the RFG requirements look (they differ between the two) |
| 5 | Energy source (primary energy) | Sources such as wind, hydro and nuclear have different conditions and safety arrangements around production, which should to varying degrees affect whether a derogation can be granted |
| 6 | Impact on local and national grid stability | Whether granting the derogation would negatively affect voltage quality or increase outage risk in local or national networks. Module size and connection voltage (criteria 2–3) are said to play a decisive role here |
| 7 | Operational safety of the kraftproduktionsmodul | The derogation must not cause safety risks in the generating unit that would create grid-adverse effects that would not otherwise have occurred |
Process and governance
Derogation applications may be submitted by:
- Owners of kraftproduktionsanläggningar (generation asset owners)
- Berörda systemansvariga (DSOs to whose network the unit is connected)
- Berörda systemansvariga för överföringssystem (TSOs — primarily Svk)
Applications must include: reference to the specific RFG provision at issue, a detailed justification with supporting documents, a cost-benefit analysis, and evidence that the derogation would have no negative effect on cross-border trade (Arts. 62–63).
Ei may revise the criteria at most once per year if changed circumstances so require (Art. 61.2).
Relevance to wiki topics
| Topic | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Generator Connection Requirements | Derogation process is a core element of the connection requirements framework |
| Source - RFG (EU 2016-631) | This decision implements Art. 61 of RFG |
| Source - EIFS 2018-2 Nätanslutning av generatorer | Later Swedish implementation of the RFG requirements (EIFS 2018:2, issued after this decision) |
| Ei | Ei is the competent NRA; this decision establishes Ei’s derogation methodology |
| Energy Storage | Wiki inference, not stated in the decision: storage units that count as power-generating modules would fall under the same criteria |
| Electric Grid Structure | Criteria 1–2 (location, voltage) reflect the physical hierarchy of the grid |