Proprietary data
Data Center Power & Policy in Sweden
Every government action on data centers and power in Sweden that we have verified: moratoriums, grid rules, incentives, tariffs and plans, with the power indicators that drive site selection.
By Amit Jain
Reviewed by Deepti Agrawal
Updated 16 October 2026
In short
As of 16 October 2026, DC Market Insights tracks 7 government actions on data centers and power in Sweden, 3 of them in force. We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Sweden.
Market snapshot
Sweden power and policy: key facts
- Industrial electricity price: 78.5 USD/MWh (2025). Rank 15 of 17 tracked countries, highest first.
- Grid emission factor: 0.06 kgCO2/kWh (2023). Rank 21 of 23 tracked countries, highest first.
- Latest change: National data centre strategy in preparation (Government of Sweden (Regeringskansliet), 25 Aug 2026).
- By type: 3 grid access, 1 plan or strategy, 1 power tariff and 1 efficiency rule.
Power indicators for Sweden
Latest official figure for each indicator, with earlier years where we have them.
In force now in Sweden
Grid access (1)
Svenska kraftnät: new transmission station only for at least 100 MW (220 kV) or 300 MW (400 kV)
Under Svenska kraftnät's connection guidance, a new transmission-grid station is considered only for a combined power need of at least 100 MW on the 220 kV grid and 300 MW on the 400 kV grid. Applications go first through the local or regional grid owner.
100 MW 100 MW at 220 kV; 300 MW at 400 kV (current guidance, cited in the March 2026 preliminary proposal).
Power tariff (1)
Energy tax on electricity 2026: 36.0 öre/kWh (applies to data centres)
The general energy tax on electricity for 2026 is 36.0 öre per kWh. With the data-centre reduction abolished in 2023, data centres pay this rate; the 9.6 öre/kWh northern-Sweden reduction does not apply to industrial use.
36 öre/kWh General 2026 rate, excluding VAT.
Efficiency rule (1)
Act (2025:570): data centres of 500 kW IT or more must publish energy performance
Owners or operators of data centres with installed IT power demand of at least 500 kW must publish energy performance data every year (EU Energy Efficiency Directive Art. 12, Delegated Regulation 2024/1364). The Swedish Energy Agency registers them in the EU database; reports for 2025 were due by 15 May 2026.
500 kW IT
Announced and proposed
Measures that are not yet in force. Status changes when the rule takes effect or is withdrawn.
National data centre strategy in preparation
The Prime Minister confirmed in August 2026 that the government is working on a national strategy for data centres (electricity use, jobs, water). No content or date has been published. In April 2026 the energy minister pointed to the AI strategy of 20 Feb 2026 and the Svenska kraftnät connection review instead of a national siting plan.
Svenska kraftnät review of the connection process (report 29 Apr 2026)
Government-commissioned report: connect at the lowest suitable voltage as main rule; add a directed allocation system with capacity zones and a 'ready-first' track next to the first-come queue; use permit-based maturity; assess a fossil-free new-generation requirement for large new consumption; geographically differentiated fixed fee in the transmission tariff from 2027. The Energy Markets Inspectorate is asked to analyse needed law changes.
Svenska kraftnät: reserve grid capacity for general societal growth (connections above 0.5 MW excluded)
Consultation memo proposing that Svenska kraftnät reserves capacity at congested transmission stations for general local growth, based on regional grid forecasts on a 5-year horizon updated every two years. Single connections above 0.5 MW, such as data centres, are outside the reserved capacity and cannot use it.
0.5 MW Single connections above 0.5 MW are not part of reserved general growth.
Timeline of data center and power policy in Sweden
| Date | Action | Type | Status | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 2026 | National data centre strategy in preparation | Plan or strategy | Announced | Government of Sweden (Regeringskansliet) |
| 29 Apr 2026 | Svenska kraftnät review of the connection process (report 29 Apr 2026) | Grid access | Proposed | Svenska kraftnät; Klimat- och näringslivsdepartementet (assignment KN2025/01694) |
| 6 Mar 2026 | Svenska kraftnät: new transmission station only for at least 100 MW (220 kV) or 300 MW (400 kV) | Grid access | In force | Svenska kraftnät (transmission system operator) |
| 5 Feb 2026 | Svenska kraftnät: reserve grid capacity for general societal growth (connections above 0.5 MW excluded) | Grid access | Proposed | Svenska kraftnät |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Energy tax on electricity 2026: 36.0 öre/kWh (applies to data centres) | Power tariff | In force | Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) |
| 28 May 2025 | Act (2025:570): data centres of 500 kW IT or more must publish energy performance | Efficiency rule | In force | Riksdag; Energimyndigheten (Swedish Energy Agency) |
| 16 Dec 2022 | Reduced energy tax on electricity used in data centres abolished from 1 July 2023 | Incentive | Expired | Riksdag / Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) |
How Sweden compares
Latest official figures for the countries we track.
| Country | Industrial power price | Renewable share | Grid emission factor | Restrictions in force | Incentives in force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | — | 19.6% (2025) | 0.28 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 0 | 2 |
| Australia | — | 39% (2025) | — | 0 | 2 |
| Bangladesh | — | 2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Belgium | 183 USD/MWh (2025) | 34.3% (2025) | 0.19 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Brazil | — | 86.8% (2025) | 0.07 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Chile | — | 66% (2025) | 0.24 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Colombia | — | — | 0.22 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 2 |
| Denmark | 134 USD/MWh (2025) | 81.5% (2024) | 0.11 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 0 |
| Ecuador | — | — | 0.16 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 58.4 USD/MWh (2025) | 57% (2024) | 0.03 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| France | 104 USD/MWh (2025) | 27% (2025) | 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 180 USD/MWh (2025) | 58.8% (2025) | 0.34 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 1 | 0 |
| India | 82.1 USD/MWh (2025) | 28.7% (2026) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 5 |
| Indonesia | 62.9 USD/MWh (2024) | 16.3% (2025) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 234 USD/MWh (2025) | 41.3% (2024) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 2 | 0 |
| Japan | — | 23.1% (2024) | 0.45 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Kazakhstan | — | 14.6% (2025) | 0.81 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 105 USD/MWh (2026) | 21% (2025) | 0.74 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 1 |
| Mexico | — | — | 0.44 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Nepal | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 148 USD/MWh (2025) | 49% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 4 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 97.5 USD/MWh (2026) | 34.7% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Peru | — | 62.6% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Russia | — | 17.6% (2025) | — | 2 | 0 |
| Singapore | 189 USD/MWh (2025) | 2.1% (2024) | 0.40 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | — | 9.8% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | — | 60.2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sweden | 78.5 USD/MWh (2025) | — | 0.06 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 120 USD/MWh (2026) | 8.8% (2024) | 0.47 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | 234 USD/MWh (2026) | 52.1% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 86.2 USD/MWh (2025) | 24% (2025) | 0.35 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 83.3 USD/MWh (2026) | 19.4% (2025) | — | 1 | 0 |
Questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Sweden?
We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Sweden as of 16 October 2026. Proposed or announced measures, if any, are listed in the timeline.
What does electricity cost for data centers in Sweden?
The industrial electricity price in Sweden was 78.5 USD/MWh in 2025 (Eurostat nrg_pc_205, band IE (20,000-69,999 MWh), excl. VAT and recoverable taxes: 2025-S1 0.0667 and 2025-S2 0.0722 EUR/kWh, mean 0.06945 EUR/kWh x 1.1300 USD/EUR (Eurostat ert_bil_eur_a 2025 average) = 78.5 USD/MWh.). Data center contracts can differ by voltage level, contract length and location.
Where does this data come from?
Each action comes from a page we opened: a law, regulation, gazette notice, ministry or regulator release, grid operator notice or investment agency page, and only when official text is not available a company or trade publication. A second analyst re-opens the source before an item is published. Government sources are linked on the page; all sources come with the Excel data.
What counts as a restriction or moratorium?
A government or grid operator rule that stops, pauses, caps or conditions new data center capacity or grid connections, for a country or a region within it. Proposals are shown as proposed until they take effect.
How are power prices compared?
We use each country’s official statistics for industrial or non-household electricity, converted to US dollars per MWh at the average rate for the year where needed, and show the year and source. Contract prices for data centers can differ.
How often is it updated?
Countries are reviewed on a rolling schedule and changes are added as they are announced. Each item shows the date of the action.
Global capacity
How much data center capacity does Sweden have?
Installed capacity in MW (IT load), its share of the region, the largest tracked sites and the outlook to 2035.
Choosing a market or a site?
Our analysts prepare country briefings on power, grid access, incentives and permits, with every source, in Excel.