Connection to the grid

Updated: 17.01.2019

Author: Oskar Vågerö

Companies operating a district heating network are obliged to negotiate terms with the operator of a heat generation plant prior to connecting the plant to the network. This obligation, however, does not imply that the companies are obliged to connect plants to their networks (§ 37 Act No. 2008:263). 

If no agreement concerning connection to the district heating grid can be met, the operator of the district heating network shall grant the heat generating plant a regulated grid access However, if the company operating a district heating network can demonstrate that the connection of the heat generating plant would present a risk to the network, the obligation does not apply (§ 37a Act No. 2008:263).

The agreement on regulated access shall be valid for 10 years (§ 37c Act No. 2008:263).

Procedure

Process flow

An operator of a heat generation plant who wants to connect his plant to a district heating network in order to sell his heat to a district heating operator or use the network to distribute heat has to apply to a district heating company. The company is obliged to negotiate terms with the plant operator prior to the connection of the plant to the network (§ 37 Act No. 2008:263). 

If no agreement concerning connection to the district heating grid can be met, the operator of district heating network shall grant a regulated grid access to this heat generation plant (§ 37a Act No. 2008:263).

Obligation to inform

If no agreement on network access can be reached, the district heating company is obliged to give reasons for denying access (§ 37 Act No. 2008:263).

Distribution of costs

Plant operator

The operator of a heat generation plant has to bear the costs of the connection (§ 37c Act No. 2008:263).

Sweden

Further information

Basic information on legal sources