The Danish Utility Regulator (DUR) and the Swedish regulatory authority Energimarknadsinspektionen (Ei) have decided to postpone the joint self-evaluation of the Danish-Swedish wholesale markets for gas, which was expected this year.
The self-evaluation relates to the model (and metrics) proposed by the ACER (Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators) in its European vision paper for the European gas market – The Gas Target Model (GTM).
The GTM focuses on gas wholesale market functioning, security of supply and the future role of gas. The GTM proposes that the national regulatory authorities of the EU member states carry out regular self-evaluations of their national wholesale markets for gas – ideally every third year. The latest joint Danish-Swedish self-evaluation took place three years ago in 2017, hence the expected update this year.
The postponement is due to the fact that the Danish-Swedish wholesale markets for gas are undergoing significant changes. First, the offshore Tyra gas field in the North Sea is shut down from September 2019 to June 2023 in order to be redeveloped. This is crucial, because the Tyra gas field has been the most important source of supply for Danish and Swedish gas consumers since 1987. Second, the Baltic Pipe is expected to have a significant impact on the Danish-Swedish wholesale markets for gas. The Baltic Pipe is currently expected to be fully operational as of the 1st of October, 2022.
DUR and Ei therefore suggest that a more extensive analysis of possible market reforms of the Danish-Swedish market should await the completion of the Baltic Pipe Project, as well as the reopening of the Tyra gas field.
The latest joint Danish-Swedish self-evaluation can be read here