Germany advances Datteln 4 sale under EU asset rules

The nation of Germany is moving forward with a planned sale of the Datteln 4 site, owned and operated by Uniper. The site will be sold to the Czech commodity trading and investment firm ResInvest Group. The sale is a requirement for Uniper to meet the stringent requirements set in place by the European Union. The sale is necessary for Uniper to meet the requirements for EU state aid and represents the massive standing the coal sector has in Europe. Despite the fact that the sale needs to pass the regulatory approval, it is expected to pass muster and be finalized soon.

The Datteln 4 coal-fired power plant is among the best in the world

With the myriad of coal-fired power plants that dot the global landscape, the Datteln 4 is among the most efficient and flexible, providing essential power generation to thousands of homes in the region. The plant was commissioned in 2022 and has a net electrical output of 1,052 megawatts. The acquisition of the site comes with some extra capital for Uniper, as it will also gain the associated heat generation facilities.

Currently, more than 100 employees work at the Datteln site that provides electricity to a variety of sectors in Germany, which include:

• Electricity to households
• Traction power to the Deutsche Bahn
• District heating to several thousand homes in the northern Ruhr area

Germany is among the coldest nations in Europe and, as such, requires vast amounts of energy to keep its citizens toasty and warm during the winter months. Uniper, which is based in Düsseldorf, is an exceedingly large energy company that employs 7,500 people across 40 countries. It supplies electricity to several nations, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

“The EU conditions make the sale of the Datteln 4 power plant necessary. The plant makes a significant contribution to energy supply – thanks above all to the highly professional and dedicated team that ensures operations with great passion. It is all the more gratifying that we have found a buyer in ResInvest Group a.s. who will continue to guarantee the safe and efficient operation of the plant. Upon completion of the transaction, ResInvest Group a.s. will not only take over a state-of-the-art power plant – but also a strong team.” – Holger Kreetz, Uniper Chief Operating Officer

The sale of Datteln 4 is a requirement to meet the EU Commission stabilization package

The European Union approved the stabilization package for Uniper in 2022. As part of that package, the EU requires Uniper to implement a series of structural remedies. The signing of the deal has been finalized, and once the regulatory demands are met, the sale of the site can move forward. Both parties have agreed to keep the asking price private.

The ResInvest Group is a private investment firm for the Czech Republic and has big plans to increase its standing in the coal sector across Europe. The coal sector has, in the past few months, been bolstered by the change being led by the US. ResInvest’s founder praised the deal in a recent statement.

“By acquiring Datteln 4, we are pursuing our strategy of investing in infrastructure assets where we see long-term value. We are committed to ensuring reliable operations today, while remaining ready to meet future energy needs.” – Tomáš Novotný, Founder and Chairman of ResInvest Group

Much like the United States, Germany still relies on coal plants for crucial energy capacity

The recent news of a billion-dollar investment into hydrogen by the German energy sector has not slowed the progress being made in the more traditional coal sector. And much like the United States, coal still plays an integral part in Germany’s energy capacity ambitions. While the similarities are ever-present, the difference between the US and Germany is that America is expanding coal operations under “emergency orders”. This will inevitably come back to bite them as the world transitions towards cleaner energy production.