Germany’s 1-GW Datteln 4 sold under EU divestment plan

The European energy juggernaut that is Germany recently approved the sale of one of the largest and most efficient power plants in the nation, the Datteln 4 Power Plant. The site was previously owned by energy giant Uniper, which announced that the German government approved the sale of the Datteln 4 plant to none other than the Czech investment firm, the ResInvest Group. Along with the plant, the ResInvest Group will also receive the site’s heat generation facilities. The sale sets a benchmark for the German energy sector’s plans to meet the stringent requirements of the EU’s divestment plan.

The Datteln 4 Power Plant will remain a crucial energy generation site for the German nation

The sale marks an important step for Germany to meet the stringent requirements that the European Union’s divestment plan lays out. The Datteln 4 site is crucial to meeting the energy needs of the German populace.

The site was commissioned in 2020 and is a modern hard coal-fired power station with a net electrical output of 1,052 megawatts. It supplies consistent electricity to thousands of German homes as well as traction power to Deutsche Bahn, and district heating to the people in the northern Ruhr area.

As part of the conditions that Uniper must fulfill under EU state aid law, the Datteln 4 site was sold by Uniper to the ResInvest group. The plant currently employs over 100 people. In December 2022, the EU Commission approved a stabilization package for Uniper under EU state aid law. As part of that approval, the EU outlined several structural remedies that Uniper needs to meet.

Uniper Chief Operating Officer, Holger Kreetz, revealed the details of the sale in a press release.

“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.” – Uniper Chief Operating Officer, Holger Kreetz

The ResInvest group is world-renowned for its strategic investments across several nations’ energy sectors

The investment firm was quick to jump on board the train that proposed the sale of the Datteln 4 power plant. They emphasized their commitment to keeping the status quo on site and that operations will continue unchanged.

“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

The ReInvest group is a multinational investment firm that boasts $731 million in assets across operating entities. The company jumped at the opportunity to invest in the German energy sector. 

ReInvest Group operates in a vast number of countries, 16 to be exact, and stated the following on their website.

We focus on serving the needs of major industrial consumers, including power plants, chemical plants, and large-scale commodity processors. With expertise in dry bulk commodities – biomass, transitional fuels, grains, seeds, ores, and metals – we deliver comprehensive solutions, including logistics, to maximize value for our clients. – The ReInvest Group

The sale of the plant represents a new future for the energy sector in Germany and the EU as a whole

The German government is doing all in its considerable power to meet the stringent requirements that the EU divestment plan has laid out. The coal sector has seen significant growth in the past few years, according to the Energy Information Agency. The sale of the Datteln 4 power plant represents a new approach to the energy sector in the European Union, and Germany will reap the benefits of continued support and cooperation with the EU. The sale is still subject to regulatory approval.