Response to interpellation 2025/26:414 on national plan for new data centers
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns a national plan for the establishment of data centers and how these affect electricity prices and the electricity system. KD argues that investments in data centers are an asset for the business sector and welfare 1, but that the expansion must take the power grid's capacity into account 1. KD emphasizes that the government is working to streamline the connection process and plans requirements that waste heat must be utilized 2 3. S considers that Sweden has fallen behind in AI and demands clearer governance and requirements for data centers to contribute to energy supply and knowledge transfer 4. S requests a national plan to ensure that establishments do not harm families' electricity prices 1 5.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Mr. Speaker! We continue partially on the energy track. Isak From has, in fact, asked me how the government is working to guarantee that the new establishments do not lead to sharply increased electricity prices that hit families and local industry, and if the government will proceed with a proposal for a national plan for the establishment of data centers.
First, I want to emphasize that I truly share the view held by Isak From – not on everything, but in this matter. Investments in data centers can be a great asset for the business sector and the public sector and can create a foundation for growth and welfare, while at the same time posing challenges regarding electricity needs and the impact on the electricity system.
The Government has during the mandate period worked actively with issues concerning AI and data centers. During the autumn of 2025, my state secretaries held, among other things, a round-table discussion with a large number of affected actors regarding the needs that exist for connecting large data centers for AI, as well as what challenges and solutions exist for the electricity system. We intend to continue these discussions. On February 20 this year, the Government presented an AI strategy which, among other things, states that the expansion of computing capacity needs to take into account the availability of the electricity grid and electricity production. To enable a more efficient expansion, strong coordination and cooperation between affected actors are needed regarding the placement of the facilities as well as the balance between produced and consumed energy.
Against the background of the need for a powerful electrification by 2045 and the large number of applications for connection to the power grid, the government has given Svenska kraftnät several assignments to streamline the connection process. In February 2025, Svenska kraftnät reported an assignment regarding planning for increased electricity use. In its report, the authority assesses the geographical conditions for the connection of electricity production, flexibility resources, and electricity use. In September 2025, Svenska kraftnät was given an assignment to develop the process for connection to the transmission grid in order to contribute to good conditions for industry and for a stronger and more competitive Sweden. The assignment is to be reported at the end of April 2026.
Isak From (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Energy and Business, for a rather forward-looking answer with good intentions!
The question we ask ourselves is: Is it enough with good intentions when both companies and Swedish families have experienced a very expensive winter? The questions are large regarding what happens with the electricity bills if it is not coordinated and steered sufficiently.
The starting point for the interpellation is that we in the Social Democrats see great advantages in being at the forefront of AI development, but we see that Sweden has fallen behind. There is a reason why investments in AI centers are landing in Sweden. In that case, it is also quite important that it is coordinated with the conditions that exist in society linked to what we have for power grid conditions. What is the energy production in the area? And above all: Will requirements be set to utilize the waste heat?
Here I do not see any clear answer from Ebba Busch directly regarding how it would work. I have followed up on the assignment that the government has given to Svenska kraftnät and that which Svenska kraftnät has now sent out for consultation.
There are some good intentions there where the need to increase coordination between the regional actors and the actor seeking permission is highlighted. But then there are many other legislations that already govern the issue. What can one do in that case?
There are very many traditional Swedish industrial companies that have paid very much for their electricity connection and continue to wait very long. I only need to say SSAB in Oxelösund, and I think everyone will understand that there are many who expect better deliveries and low energy prices.
Here we have industrial companies that create much-needed jobs that are taxable for the welfare in Sweden. Now we do not really see it, but there has been interest from the large American tech giants to establish themselves in Sweden.
Will we be able to demand that they also contribute to energy supply and knowledge transfer and be part of the societal solution by taking advantage of the surplus heat expected to be generated from the new data center establishments?
There are three parts that must work together for one to be able to say that it is a good investment for Sweden.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I will be brief, so I hope that Isak From has patience with me. I want to start by rambling a little bit about the past, then I will come to the present and my full responsibility for it.
In 2017, the Social Democrats introduced a reduction in the energy tax for data centers. The National Audit Office has subsequently strongly criticized that reduction. Among other things, the National Audit Office was critical that the reduction was not accompanied by any requirements whatsoever regarding energy efficiency or the use of waste heat.
It is a bit interesting how it has shifted. It reminds me of 2026, almost ten years later. I agree very much with what Isak From says, Mr. Speaker.
In the previous interpellation debate, I mentioned the connection queues that SVK has. Of all ongoing connection cases, data centers account for 12 percent. That is a significant proportion. Viewed as a whole system, it is not such a large proportion and can be thought of as manageable. But there needs to be a clear strategy for it, especially if it were to suddenly increase further.
When it comes to many of the proposals I have received from the Social Democrats during the spring, I dare to go as far as to say that I almost recognized them. It is as if they exist in my own head. It turns out that parts of this is also the government's policy. Even here, there are good opportunities to cooperate for Sweden's best.
I would like to press a little bit on the issue of waste heat. Modern AI and data centers generate significant amounts of heat that can be used in district heating networks. We need more of that. Certain industrial establishments also do this, but it needs to happen more. We talk all too little about district heating and combined heat and power, especially in relation to how much time we perhaps spend on wind power and, for all intents and purposes, nuclear power.
The government is therefore now taking the initiative for requirements and incentives so that waste heat can be integrated when the needs exist and it is technically possible. In the upcoming revision of the energy efficiency directive, requirements will be set that a cost-benefit analysis shall be conducted during construction or major renovation to ensure that waste heat is utilized if it is economically feasible. This, I hope, will still please today's interpellant a little bit.
Isak From (S)
Mr. Speaker! The year 2017 was almost ten years ago. At that time, the premise was that we needed to attract more people to establish themselves in Sweden. Since then, we can see that world events have significantly changed the conditions.
What has changed even more is the enormous consumption of the large data centers. If we take Svenska kraftnät's own calculations, it is estimated that it would be 5,000 megawatt-hours by 2030. That is a very large amount.
Svenska kraftnät also says that they are considering that data centers should guarantee their own electricity production. I think that might be a bit difficult without having a clear steering. Is it reasonable that it should only be steered through market conditions?
Svenska kraftnät also says that there must be agreements in place before connection, otherwise the power grid cannot handle the demand. That is also perfectly reasonable. If one does not coordinate it, there is also a risk that the establishments that could be good will stall and not be implemented.
The connection queue is, just as the Minister says, large in many places. Here, Svenska kraftnät, partly with the support of the government, has cleared a number of applications that perhaps have not been entirely truthful regarding the conditions.
I share the view that it should be possible to utilize recycling and waste heat. It is primarily the large combined heat and power producers along the Norrland coast in some of the larger cities that are relevant and where a connection could be possible. There, one could directly connect to the district heating network and be an important resource and contribute. The energy shortage, particularly in electricity price area 3 and 4, is perhaps what makes the conditions not quite exist there right now. One can be a bit questioning regarding this.
The Minister says in the response that the government has presented an AI strategy, and that is indeed what has been done. It has received a fair amount of criticism for the fact that it to a considerable extent shifts the responsibility onto other actors and has a relatively large focus on the public sector. The latter is perhaps not bad, but it is more than we Social Democrats who think that the government's and the state's own part in this is quite weak.
There are great prerequisites, and the opportunities are many. Let us take advantage of the opportunities and ensure that this does not land wrong!
What other initiatives is the Minister for Energy and Business willing to take during this mandate period?
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I hope there will be one more mandate period, because then I can take more initiatives.
Until then, I want to answer quite directly: I think that the initiative I have just described goes quite far in meeting what Isak From is looking for. One should also remember that the decisions in 2017 were not made in a vacuum, but this happened at the same time as it was announced that four reactors would disappear and that the combined heat and power was double-taxed through the waste incineration tax. There were many things happening at the same time.
Since then, we have become both older and wiser, I perceive it as such, and I am glad about that. Let me repeat that incredibly much is happening in the energy sector that will be crucial for us to manage to accept all the connection applications that are now in the queue.
It is about Kraftlyftet and the pilot project with gas turbines. We have streamlined the connection queues, and it has not yet had its full effect. Hydropower receives better conditions here and now, and there will be long-term and stable conditions for both existing and new nuclear power. We have secured all these incentives for, above all, land-based wind power.
We have an important mission that concerns, not least, southern Sweden, SE3 and SE4. It is about the analysis of regional power and flexibility needs, and this too can mean that we get better stability in the system and can pace it in relation to data centers and how they can be used on the grid.
Isak From (S)
Mr. Speaker! I can gladden the Minister for Energy and Industry with the fact that there will be more parliamentary terms, but probably and hopefully we will then have an S-led government – perhaps with the support of the Minister for Energy and Industry's party. We shall see!
I see that Ebba Busch is pleased to hear this. We gratefully accept it.
The background to the interpellation is that very many people in society have been affected by high energy and electricity prices this winter. We have a situation with many who want to establish themselves, which is fundamentally good. We need to take steps in AI development and step forward properly.
My question also concerned whether the government will proceed with proposals for a national plan for the establishment of data centers. I believe that is important.
The answers that the Minister for Energy and Business has given in this debate on heat recycling are something we agree on. We believe that this is important, and it can be a good business model. But I also believe that it needs to have a certain national steering.
Given the application situation today, there are only applications for 5,000 megawatts in electricity price area 3, and that is quite a lot. Then there are, of course, additional applications in the country where the conditions are different, but when it comes to the coherent need and possibilities, it is largely linked to the places where power and district heating are established. It is there that a win-win situation can be achieved. I believe, therefore, that one may need to have a certain national steering of this.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I will keep it brief. I believe that both for a competitive energy system and to get the delivery in order for data centers that can serve and streamline both our welfare and our growth, it would be good with four more years for the group I work with today.
However, it does not stand in opposition to the fact that one can gladly reach agreements on important issues for the country's sake. We continue to work for more competitive and stable electricity prices and to move away from the struggle over the power strike.
I think we are taking important steps to get in order how we utilize the establishment of data centers in the best possible way. These are important steps towards what is requested here regarding a national plan for the establishment of data centers, and I look forward to discussing this further.
I thank you very much for the interpellation.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.