The green transition doesn't stop at the border - increased cooperation will send even more clean electricity through the Nordic region

The Nordic electricity system is becoming a true testbed for how Europe can operate secure, cost-effective electricity grids in a future dominated by renewable energy. A new research and innovation project, Nordic-Sec, supported by 8.6 million kroner from Innovation Fund Denmark, will make it possible to unlock large amounts of green electricity by making cross-border coordination smarter.

The Nordic electricity grids are getting greener - and now they need to get smarter too. Renewable energy sources are changing our energy mix, and power is increasingly flowing across borders - often controlled by the weather. Today's electricity grids are so closely interconnected that what happens in one country affects the entire region.

As the green transition gains momentum, the cost of inadequate coordination between countries is also growing: Denmark’s costs for purchasing reserves are estimated to exceed 5 billion kroner annually by the end of 2029 – more than double compared to today – while Sweden’s costs for emergency interventions on the electricity grid increased 14-fold in one year and cost over 400 million Swedish kroner [1] . The grid is evolving rapidly. Nordic-Sec must ensure that the tools to coordinate it keep up.

Overall framework for cross-border electricity operation

- The solution is not to replace what already works – but to make it work better, together. That is exactly what Nordic-Sec wants to achieve: to harmonize operating procedures so that we can jointly write the manual for how the Nordic and European countries can keep the lights on, the electricity bill down and the green transition on track, says Lesia Mitridati, Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

When forecast errors and grid disruptions move across borders and grow over time, there is no need for yet another new standalone tool, but for a stronger layer of coordination that makes existing tools play together smoothly. This is where Nordic-Sec comes in. By addressing this challenge head-on, the project aims to deliver the first complete coordination chain covering cross-border flow calculations, reserve procurement and emergency response - all designed for a future with plenty of renewable energy.

Millions in savings and more green electricity

The key is a smarter use of the shared grid infrastructures and flexible resources we already have. The expected gains will be significant – and will even come without compromising security of supply: Better calculations of capacity between countries alone are expected to free up an additional 1.5 TWh of green energy across the Nordic region each quarter. Smarter, more harmonised reserve purchases and emergency interventions could reduce costs for Energinet by up to DKK 250 million annually.

With the support of the Innovation Fund, the project can bring together the key players closest to the operational needs: the Technical University of Denmark, which leads the research and contributes technical depth; Energinet, which operates the wind-dominated Danish electricity grid every day; and Nordic RCC, the regional coordination center for the Nordic countries – which enables the project to translate research results into reality.

Building on the existing European regulatory framework and backed by a strong advisory group of Nordic and European transmission companies, regional coordination centres and deep-tech companies, Nordic-Sec is uniquely positioned to demonstrate the benefits of improved Nordic coordination - and to provide a model for the rest of Europe to follow.

Facts

• Innovation Fund Denmark's investment: 8.6 million kroner
• Total budget: 11.5 million kroner
• Duration: 4 years
• Official title: Nordic-Sec - Closing the Loop in Nordic TSO Coordination for Enhanced Grid Security and Cost Efficiency

About the partners

The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is one of Europe's leading technical universities and works based on the vision "Technology for people" through world-class research in the operation of electricity systems and energy markets.

Energinet , Denmark's national transmission system operator (TSO), is responsible for ensuring a cost-effective and reliable electricity supply throughout Denmark.

Nordic RCC , the regional coordination center for the Nordic countries, provides regional coordination services to the Nordic transmission companies, including coordinated capacity calculations and coordinated security analysis.