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Inertia, frequency, voltage, system constraints, and more — these are just some of the factors that need to be considered when balancing an electricity grid. But don’t worry, you don’t need a PhD in nuclear physics. Balancing the grid is a highly complex task, and here we’ll explain the basics.

Svenska kraftnät’s (SVK) role is to reliably ensure that the power grid can match supply and demand every single second — this is what it means to balance the grid.

When you think about how electricity demand rises and falls throughout the day, and how it can be affected by weather conditions, it’s easy to see how quickly that demand can change. To manage this, SVK relies on a wide range of tools.

Electricity is transported across all regions of Sweden, and key parameters like voltage (volts) and frequency (Hz) must be carefully regulated across the entire national grid. This ensures that the power produced in large reactors and turbines can safely be used by everyday electronics plugged into wall sockets.

SVK’s mission is to ensure that all of this happens smoothly and efficiently. To do so, they work with partners to provide ancillary services — critical tools that help keep our grid stable, secure, and as cost-effective as possible.