Source - Svk Forskning Uppdrag 3.5 (2026)
Government assignment report (regleringsbrevet för budgetår 2026, uppdrag 3.5). Submitted to Regeringskansliet (Klimat- och näringslivsdepartementet) on 12 June 2026. Ärende nr: SVK 2026/466. 48 pages. Swedish only.
Bibliographic details
- Title: Forskning vid Svenska kraftnät — Betydelse, nyttiggörande och samspel med Statens energimyndighet
- Author/publisher: Affärsverket Svenska kraftnät
- Date: 2026-06-11 (internal date) / submitted 2026-06-12
- Assignment basis: Regleringsbrev 2026, uppdrag 3.5 Forskning
Summary
The report fulfils three sub-tasks set in Svk’s 2026 regleringsbrev:
- Describe the significance of Svk’s self-funded research for its operations
- Analyse how externally funded research (Energimyndigheten) can be better utilized
- Describe how the two funding streams complement each other
Main conclusion: Svk’s own research is operationally close, concretely valuable, and mandated by law. External research from Energimyndigheten is relevant but not systematically utilized — a structural issue requiring a more disciplined process.
Research and innovation framework
Legal mandate
Förordning (2025:782) med instruktion för Affärsverket svenska kraftnät mandates Svk to promote research and development of significance for operations, including demonstration of new technology, and to promote research, development, and knowledge dissemination in the dam safety area.
Budget
| Stream | Funding source | Annual volume |
|---|---|---|
| Core R&D | Fee-funded (transmission customers, BRPs) | ~30 mnkr/year |
| Dam safety (dammsäkerhet) | Government grant (anslag) | ~6–7 mnkr/year |
| Electricity preparedness (elberedskap) | Government grant | ~4–6 mnkr/year |
Four R&D areas
| Area | Focus |
|---|---|
| Nätteknik, hållbarhet och säkerhet | Grid construction, maintenance, materials, cables, HVDC, electromagnetic fields |
| Elmarknad | Market design, ancillary service design, balancing, tariffs, connection processes |
| Systemutmaningar | System adequacy, inertia, power flows, international coordination |
| Digitalisering | AI, forecasting, control room tools, data management, cybersecurity |
Research types
| Type | Function | Actors |
|---|---|---|
| Långsiktig kunskaps- och kompetensuppbyggnad | Broad competence, methodological development | Universities, research institutes, doctoral students |
| Intern forskning och utredning | Operational analysis and development | Internal experts + collaborators |
| Extern uppdragsforskning | Specific questions, external specialists | Research institutes, universities |
| Test och demonstration | Pilot and field verification | Industry, DSOs, system actors |
| Verksamhetsnära innovationsstöd | Embed results in operations | Line functions + R&D cross-function |
International cooperation
Svk participates in: ENTSO-E Research, Development and Innovation Committee (RDIC); Nordic R&D Group (SE, NO, FI, DK TSOs); CIGRE; SEK Svensk Elstandard; IEEE; Energiforsk (Svk is a part-owner).
Key research examples and results
Nätteknik
- Arbete med spänning (AMS) — Live-line working methods (maintenance, measurement, repair without outages). Estimated ~100 AMS operations per year needed; major socioeconomic value by avoiding planned interruptions (reduced capacity loss + market disruption). Developed with Nordic TSO partners.
- Drone- and sensor-based condition monitoring — Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) via optical fiber for cable and substation monitoring. Enables condition-based maintenance, early fault detection.
- Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) — Capacity assessment based on actual weather conditions rather than static assumptions. Demonstrated potential for higher utilization of existing overhead lines. Not yet operationally deployed; still decision-support stage.
- Flödesstyrande utrustning (power flow controllers) — Analysis shows potential to redistribute power flows between lines and relieve bottlenecks; pilot studies recommended.
- High-temperature conductors (högtemperaturlinor) — External research led to concrete investment decisions; capacity increase via conductor replacement demonstrated and implemented.
- Energy storage for transmission capacity — Analysed as complement to grid reinforcement; value is highly location- and system-condition dependent; cannot replace grid investment as general solution.
Elmarknad / Digitalisering
- AI-based forecasting — Implemented as operational decision support in the control room: wind power, consumption, and rotational energy (inertia) forecasts using AI + physical models. Nordic TSO collaboration. Enables proactive reserve activation and shift from reactive to predictive system operation.
- Market design research — Machine learning and market design analysis used in FCR product design and implementation timelines.
- Meteorology and wind power — Industrial doctoral students; improved SMHI data exchange; enhanced control room weather handling.
Energimyndigheten relationship
- Energimyndigheten finances broad technology development and demonstration (call-based programs, competence centres).
- Svk’s own research is operations-close: test, verification, and implementation in the Swedish power system.
- Identified gap: external research results not systematically utilized within Svk. No established process for identifying relevant projects early, actively participating in strategic initiatives, or translating results into operations.
- Recommendations: more structured dialogue on research needs relevant to transmission and system operation; Svk role in shaping Energimyndigheten program calls; more active participation in strategic investments.
- The two streams are complementary: Energimyndigheten covers knowledge breadth and tech development; Svk covers operational translation and system-specific implementation.
Relevance to existing wiki topics
- Svenska kraftnät: budget and R&D structure; Förordning 2025:782 (new instruction); four R&D areas
- Balancing Markets: research underlying FCR design; AI forecasting as operational tool; Nordic R&D collaboration on balancing model
- Congestion Management: DLR as congestion tool; power flow control equipment; energilager analysis for transmission capacity
- Digitalization and Smart Grid: AI/ML integration in control room; DTS/DAS; cyber-physical monitoring; ENTSO-E RDIC participation
- Flexibility: explicit research priority — methods for identifying, valuing, and activating flexibility resources; market model development across timehorizons and geographic scales
Data gaps
- Svk’s specific DLR pilots — have any progressed from analysis to operational deployment?
- Nordic R&D Group — published research agenda or priority topics
- Energimyndigheten’s response to Svk’s recommendations for more structured collaboration