Uniper Reaffirms Strategy: Billions To Be Invested In The Energy System Transformation

• A diversified portfolio strengthens resilience and competitiveness
• Approximately €5B of investments planned through 2030, with around half allocated to Germany; focus on flexible generation capacity
• Growing data center market: Uniper aims to unlock new revenue potential by attracting data centers to its power plant sites

The Management Board of Uniper SE has reaffirmed the company’s transformation strategy. Through planned investments totaling billions in flexible generation, renewable energy, and the expansion of its gas procurement portfolio, Uniper is underscoring its key role in ensuring a secure, predictable, and reliable energy supply for Europe over the long term.

The company reaffirms its plan to invest approximately €5B between 2025 and 2030 in security of supply and the transformation of European energy systems, with a around half of that amount allocated to Germany.

Michael Lewis, Uniper CEO: “Uniper’s strategy is firmly focused on the future: We invest where supply security, competitiveness, and decarbonization converge. We provide reliable solutions to key energy policy and economic challenges. With our sharpened investment focus, we are directing additional capital toward flexible generation and intend to invest particularly in Germany, where the need for secure capacity, modern power plant infrastructure, and hydrogen-ready assets continues to grow.”

The combination of dispatchable generation, renewable energy, and a diversified gas portfolio is intended to make Uniper even more resilient and flexible. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing geopolitical, regulatory, and energy market environment, this positioning is more relevant today than ever.

All three business segments, Green Generation, Flexible Generation, and Greener Commodities, remain focused on gradual decarbonization. Key levers include the phase-out of coal as well as investments in renewable energy, hydropower, and hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plants. By 2030, Uniper aims to operate 15 to 20 gigawatts of power generation capacity. At least half of this capacity is expected to come from renewable, low-carbon, or decarbonizable generation assets.

Investment Focus Further Sharpened
Uniper’s Management Board has decided to further sharpen its investment focus and allocate significant resources to flexible power generation in response to structural market opportunities.

More than half of the planned investments through 2030 are to flow into the Flexible Generation business segment across various markets, where Uniper has a broad and attractive project pipeline – ranging from new construction projects and site developments to the conversion and modernization of existing plants, including the prospect of climate-neutral operation (e.g., CCS-ready or hydrogen-ready).

Uniper expects the upcoming StromVKG tenders in Germany, scheduled for September and December 2026, to be a key component of the planned investments. Uniper intends to participate in these tenders with two hydrogen-ready power plant projects at the Gelsenkirchen-Scholven and Staudinger sites, targeting a combined capacity of around 1.7 gigawatts. Both projects are already well advanced in their technical planning and site preparation phases.

Further opportunities include new-build projects, lifetime extensions, modernization programs and gigawatt-scale conversion projects in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands. These include the Connah’s Quay project with CCS integration in the UK and the conversion project at Karlshamn in Sweden, where Uniper aims to decarbonise capacity of 1.7 gigawatts by 2030 in total.

Approximately one-third of the planned €5B investment program through 2030 is earmarked for the Green Generation segment. Uniper is investing in the expansion and operation of renewable energy assets, as well as in the modernization of existing hydropower facilities, with a clear regional and technological focus. The company aims to reach investment decisions for an average of up to 500 megawatts of solar and wind projects per year. Key projects currently underway include the 160-megawatt Happurg pumped-storage hydropower plant and a 54-megawatt expansion of hydropower capacity along Sweden’s Ume River.

In the Greener Commodities segment, Uniper plans to further diversify its gas business, particularly as global energy trading is increasingly shaped by geopolitical developments. The company maintains its medium-term target of expanding its gas portfolio to 250–300 terawatt-hours, primarily based on long-term supply contracts.

The foundation for this expansion consists of long-term supply agreements, including contracts with Woodside (Australia), Tourmaline (Canada), and ConocoPhillips (United States). The focus remains on ensuring secure supply for Uniper’s customers in Germany, including approximately 1,000 municipal utilities and industrial customers, supported by a broad gas storage portfolio.

At the same time, Uniper is strategically expanding its portfolio to include renewable and low-carbon gases as well as hydrogen. Together with its consortium partners, Uniper is demonstrating at the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park that hydrogen is being used successfully today. The project covers the entire hydrogen value chain from production and storage to transport, marketing, and end use.

Growth Opportunities through Europe’s Expanding Data Center Infrastructure
Growing demand for digital infrastructure is expected to create new growth opportunities for Uniper. These opportunities arise both from increasing demand for suitable sites for data centers and from their growing future electricity consumption. In addition to creating value through the sale or leasing of sites and through co-investments, Uniper aims to generate additional earnings through structured power purchase agreements (PPAs) and, where economically viable, through direct supply from its own generation capacity.

This approach allows Uniper to participate in one of the world’s most dynamic growth markets, where access to reliable power supply and strong grid connections are key factors in site selection.

Michael Lewis, CEO: "The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure is creating new opportunities. The growing power demand of data centers requires reliable, high-performance, and long-term energy supply solutions. With our sites, grid connectivity, and deep energy market expertise, we are well positioned to support this growing market and help shape Europe’s digital transformation."

Uniper has already identified more than ten company-owned sites with suitable infrastructure. These sites are strategically located along European data hubs and provide attractive conditions for data center development. Three projects are already at an advanced stage of development and additional financial investment decisions are expected this year. A first project in the United Kingdom has already been completed.

Uniper sees significant earnings potential in this fast-growing business area while requiring comparatively limited capital investment. The expected contributions could further increase the share of contract-backed earnings within the company's portfolio.

Strong Balance Sheet Provides Foundation for Investment Program
A strong balance sheet, including approximately €12B in equity and a net cash position of around €2.8B at the end of last year, provides Uniper with the financial strength needed to execute its growth and transformation agenda.

In addition, the rating agencies S&P, Scope, and Fitch assign Uniper investment-grade credit ratings. They emphasize the company’s robust liquidity position, improved cash flow visibility, disciplined financial policy, and strategic shift toward more stable and predictable earnings sources.