Source - Svk NBM Nordic Balancing Model

Svenska kraftnät’s overview page for the Nordic Balancing Model (NBM) project, updated November 2025. The NBM is the joint Nordic TSO programme redesigning how the Nordic balancing markets work — driven by deteriorating conditions under the current model and the need to align with EU market integration objectives.

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Summary

The Nordic TSOs — Svenska kraftnät (Sweden), Statnett (Norway), Fingrid (Finland), and Energinet (Denmark) — are jointly developing the Nordic Balancing Model (NBM) to future-proof balancing for the energy transition. The current model is described as no longer adequate: conditions for secure and efficient balancing have gradually deteriorated as synchronous generation retires, consumption patterns shift, and the number of cross-border interconnectors grows.

The NBM addresses three interconnected challenges: (1) maintaining system security as the generation mix changes; (2) capturing the large socioeconomic value of integrated Nordic balancing markets (estimated at hundreds of millions of euros for Europe); and (3) aligning with EU legal frameworks (primarily EB GL and SO GL). The market value of the current integrated Nordic approach is cited explicitly as a reason to preserve and extend it.

Core architectural shift

Current model: balancing is triggered by and responds to frequency deviations in the synchronous area as a whole. A single Nordic frequency signal drives reserve activation regardless of where in the system the imbalance originates.

NBM model: balancing will be based on imbalances in each individual bidding area (elområde). Each area’s imbalance is measured and managed separately, generating area-specific price signals that reflect the actual local supply-demand balance. This enables correct price formation per area and removes the cross-subsidisation between areas with structurally different balancing needs.

The new model aims not to cause more activations than necessary, but to ensure that each activation’s price signal correctly reflects each area’s needs.

Implementation status (NBM roadmap as of November 2025)

The planned European platform connections will link Nordic balancing energy exchange to the pan-European platforms being built under the EB GL Arts. 19–21 obligation. This represents the final step of full Nordic integration into European balancing.

Implications for market actors

The full NBM requires extensive IT development, digitalization, and process redesign by all affected parties: grid companies, electricity retailers, BRPs, and balancing service providers. Svk characterizes this as a “significant increase in information flow” requiring markedly increased digitalization. All changes go through a joint Nordic TSO + market actor development and consultation process, with proposals requiring approval from the four Nordic NRAs (or ACER if NRAs cannot agree).

The European platform connections (in progress) will, when implemented, allow Nordic balancing resources to serve demand in Continental European bidding areas and vice versa — potentially increasing competition and reducing costs for Nordic TSOs.

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