OREANDA-NEWS. Fortum today published its latest Energy Review, which focuses on the Nordic power market. In the Energy Review, Fortum emphasises the need for cross-border coordination and collaboration of policy decisions in developing the Nordic power market.

“The Nordic electricity market can be considered one of the most efficient regional markets in the world. Throughout its existence, it has ensured a good security of supply and economical electricity prices in the wholesale market. To ensure the continued success of the Nordic power market, a few targets of development are in need of shared attention,” notes Esa Hyv?rinen, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Fortum.

In Fortum’s view, the key development targets include narrowing the gap between the consumer price and wholesale price of electricity, improving the balance between electricity supply and demand, shared energy policy supporting market conformity, and development of certain aspects of market regulations.

In terms of electricity wholesale and consumer prices, the Fortum Energy Review notes that the divergence between them has increased significantly in the Nordic countries in recent years. While the wholesale price for electricity in the Nordic market has decreased by half compared to the 2006-2010 level, the consumer price has increased by 10-30%, depending on the country, due to taxes, higher grid fees and production subsidies. When changes in the wholesale price are not adequately reflected in the consumer price, the attractiveness of demand response is diminished in the eyes of consumers. This is regrettable because demand response is generally considered as one solution to the supply and demand imbalance caused by the intermittency of renewable energy production.

In terms of surplus electricity production in the Nordic countries, the Fortum Energy Review notes that it is a growing challenge. The amount of subsidised, intermittent renewable energy production in the market is constantly growing, while power plant capacity needed for peak consumption situations is being decommissioned for reasons related to profitability. The best way to remedy this situation is to deepen the collaboration and coordination between the Nordic and Baltic countries in energy and climate policy.
Fortum
Fortum is a leading clean energy company which provides its customers with electricity, heating and cooling as well as smart solutions to improve resource efficiency. We want to engage our customers and society to join the change for a cleaner world. We employ some 8,000 professionals in the Nordic and the Baltic countries, Russia, Poland and India, and already 64% of our electricity generation is CO2 free.