Source - Svk Behov av Reserver 2026
Svenska kraftnät’s official reserve requirements page for 2026, published January 2026. Provides Svenska kraftnät‘s 2026 volume requirements for all balancing reserve products (FFR, FCR, aFRR, mFRR), distributed by bidding area for aFRR and mFRR. The primary authoritative source for current Swedish balancing market size.
Document metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Source | https://www.svk.se/aktorsportalen/bidra-med-reserver/behov-av-reserver-nu-och-i-framtiden/ |
| Published | 2026-01-14 |
| Author | Svenska kraftnät |
| Type | Web page (Svk actor portal) |
2026 reserve volume requirements
System-level totals
| Product | 2026 volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FFR | Up to 113 MW | Svk responsible for 38% of Nordic total; Statnett 38%, Fingrid 21%, Energinet 3%. Depends on synchronous inertia level |
| FCR-N | 226 MW | Annual procurement for all hours |
| FCR-D up | Up to 547 MW | Scales with dimensioning fault; maximum based on Oskarshamn 3 at full output = 1,450 MW Nordic fault |
| FCR-D down | Up to 528 MW | Maximum based on NSL or Nordlink at full capacity = 1,400 MW Nordic fault |
| aFRR up | Up to 97 MW (Sweden) | Nordic total: 200/225/250 MW depending on frequency quality |
| aFRR down | Up to 124 MW (Sweden) | Nordic total: 250/275/325 MW |
| mFRR up | Up to 1,300 MW (Sweden) | From end-2024: procurement via common Nordic market with Finland and Denmark |
| mFRR down | Up to 1,155 MW (Sweden) | As above |
FCR volumes are set annually. FCR-D volumes are dynamic — the maximum stated is the ceiling at peak dimensioning fault; actual procurement varies below this ceiling during the year.
aFRR by bidding area (from 1 January 2026)
| Area | aFRR up (MW) | aFRR down (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| SE1 | 18 / 21 / 22 | 20 / 24 / 27 |
| SE2 | 15 / 17 / 19 | 20 / 24 / 27 |
| SE3 | 21 / 23 / 26 | 25 / 29 / 31 |
| SE4 | 24 / 27 / 30 | 30 / 37 / 39 |
| Total SE | 78 / 88 / 97 | 95 / 114 / 124 |
Values shown as three tiers corresponding to Nordic total of 200/225/250 MW (up) and 250/275/325 MW (down).
SE4 (southern Sweden) carries the largest aFRR down obligation, reflecting the high renewable share and interconnector capacity in the south. SE3 (including Stockholm) has the largest aFRR up obligation.
mFRR capacity by bidding area (from 14 January 2026)
| Area | mFRR CM up (MW) | mFRR CM down (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| SE1 | 139 | 550 |
| SE2 | 275 | 385 |
| SE3 | 550 | 132 |
| SE4 | 336 | 88 |
| Total SE | 1,300 | 1,155 |
The pattern is inverse: SE3 dominates mFRR up (large consumption centre; needs upward reserves when underproduction occurs) while SE1 dominates mFRR down (large hydro-export surplus area; needs downward reserves when overproduction occurs).
Variable demand on mFRR CM was introduced in January 2026 — the mFRR capacity market now uses variable rather than fixed demand, better reflecting stochastic imbalances and dimensioning fault scenarios.
Context and observations
- FFR Nordic responsibility split (38/38/21/3%) means Svk’s 113 MW target implies a Nordic FFR need of ~297 MW when inertia conditions are most critical. Svk notes Finland’s Fingrid publishes FFR forecasts that can be used as a proxy for the Nordic-wide need.
- FCR-D dynamic sizing: the dimensioning fault in Norden (currently set by Oskarshamn 3 at 1,450 MW for up, NSL/Nordlink at 1,400 MW for down) determines FCR-D requirements. Changes in operating status of these installations directly change FCR-D procurement volumes — adding uncertainty to the market.
- mFRR common Nordic market (from end 2024): the pan-Nordic procurement context means Swedish mFRR bids compete across Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, with cross-zonal transfer capacity allocated for cross-area delivery.
Relevance to wiki topics
| Topic | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Balancing Markets | Primary source for 2026 quantitative volume data |
| Svenska kraftnät | Svk’s procurement obligations and responsibilities per product |
| Aggregation | Market size context for aggregated flexibility entering balancing markets |
| Source - Svk NBM Nordic Balancing Model | mFRR common Nordic market is an NBM-delivered change |
| Source - FlexAbility Delrapport 1 (2025) | 2030 projections; 2026 actuals confirm the trend |