Working group to explore smart grids´ potential for the electricity market

The Finnish power system is facing significant changes. Increased use of renewable energy and weather-dependent variable production changes the operating logic of the power system and the electricity market.

Electricity consumption and production need to be balanced second by second. Currently, electricity generation is mostly regulated to meet consumption, but, as the amount of variable generation increases, consumption also needs to be regulated more and more in order to maintain equilibrium.

This complex whole, comprised of various distributed resources, cannot be managed without automation and more effective information exchange between the different parties. A smart electricity system, also referred to as a smart grid, serves as a platform through which variable production and consumption can be matched in a cost-effective manner.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment established in September 2016 a working group to explore the potential of smart grids for the electricity market. Its goal is to explore and propose concrete measures through which smart grids can facilitate the ability of customers to actively participate in the electricity market and generally promote the maintenance of security of supply.

The group’s chairman is Senior Adviser Tatu Pahkala from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The broad working group contains representatives from both electricity suppliers, distributors and consumers as well as government authorities and research institutions.

The working group will submit its final report by 30 September 2018. In addition, it will also produce by 2 October 2017 an interim report which will detail how the work is progressing and lay out the themes to be examined in the final report.

Flexible and customer-centred electricity system - Final report of the Smart Grid Working Group

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For more information; tatu.pahkala(at)tem.fi