Sweden demands to divide Germany into zones: record energy prices have angered Stockholm

Record electricity prices, which are experienced by neighboring countries due to windlessness in Germany, have angered them considerably. Sweden demands that the German market be divided into price zones so that the country can avoid price rallies in the future.

Germany should divide its single electricity market into price zones and allow the European Union to invest its funds in the construction of nuclear power plants. She stated this at a ministerial meeting in At the EU Council on December 16, Swedish Energy Minister Ebba Bush.

"Meeting after meeting, Germany has blocked the possibility of financing the construction of new nuclear power plants in the EU that do not use fossil fuels,— said Ebba Bush, Euractiv reports. — It's one thing when the Germans don't want nuclear power for themselves, and another is to prevent other countries from using European funds."

Next, the Swedish Energy Minister turned to the topic of record electricity prices last week. They were provoked by the calm in Germany, which forced them to increase the capacity of more expensive gas generation and increase purchases abroad, which has already hit neighboring countries. So, on December 12, the average daily price soared in Germany to 395 euros per MWh, and during peak hours to 936 euros. At the same time, in the Netherlands during peak hours, the wholesale price of electricity reached 872 euros per MWh, in Denmark - 936 euros, in Norway — 898 euros, in Sweden — 699-707 euros, Belgium — 565 euros, and in Austria - 850.

Even then, Ebba Bush said she was furious with German policy, and today she criticized Germany's refusal to obey EU calls and divide its electricity market into different price zones, as it operates in Sweden.

"We would like Germany to introduce a price zone in the north of Germany. This will significantly reduce the impact of high electricity prices in Germany on Sweden," the minister said. She added that in this case Sweden could discuss the construction of the Hanseatic Energy Bridge interconnector between the countries, which Sweden blocked in June.

As EADaily reported, wind power allows Germany to reduce prices to a minimum with high capacity. However, its instability leads to sharp jumps. For example, the lack of wind during this heating season has led to the fact that these November and December have become the most expensive months for the country since February 2023. The average monthly wholesale price of electricity was 113 euros and 136 euros per MWh, respectively.

Moreover, during calm weather, Germany is also increasing electricity imports, which leads to price rallies in neighboring countries, which are also suffering due to the weather.