Wind and solar power

In the past, Europe’s renewables growth was fueled almost entirely by subsidies. That has changed. In many countries wind and solar have achieved grid parity; that is, they can produce electricity at roughly the same cost as or less than other sources like gas.

As a result, Europe entered a new era of unsubsidized, market-based renewables growth in which market integration, risk management, and energy trading are key capabilities. This era fits with Uniper’s strengths. We’re leveraging these strengths primarily in two ways: via power-purchase agreements and our own solar and wind projects.

Wind-wind situation

With subsidies dwindling, renewables developers are increasingly turning to power-purchase agreements (PPAs). Under a PPA, Uniper or another counterparty agrees to buy a percentage of a wind or solar farm’s future output for a set period (typically 10 or 15 years) at a set price. PPAs are a win-win: they give us access to more green power and give developers the financial security to fill a field with wind turbines or solar panels. We have PPAs with wind and solar farms in Europe and North America and intend to conclude many more.

Farms of our own

PPAs demonstrate that we can benefit from renewables without actually owning them. But we also believe that in the current market environment it makes sense to build some ourselves. This will give us access to the value created during the development and construction phases. This value can be monetized by selling completed assets to investors or internalized by keeping them.

Our other energy sources

Gas - fast-track decarbonization

Alongside expanding renewables capacity, gas will continue to play an important role in decarbonizing economies worldwide. Take power generation. Converting from coal to gas would deliver immediate and dramatic carbon savings.

More about gas

Uniper engineer at work at a gas power station in Öresundsverket, Sweden

Hydro power - clean electricity from water

We’ve been producing zero-carbon power for over 125 years. Our first hydro plant, Höllriegelskreuth in southeast Germany, entered service in 1894.Today, we have 2 GW of hydro capacity in Germany. We also have 1.6 GW in Sweden.

More about hydro

Wind and Solar - making our power portfolio even greener

In the past, Europe’s renewables growth was fueled almost entirely by subsidies. That has changed. In many countries wind and solar have achieved grid parity; that is, they can produce electricity at roughly the same cost as or less than other sources like gas.

More about wind and solar

Image of solar panels in the foreground and wind turbines in the background

Hydrogen - the key to decarbonizing industry

Companies and communities across Europe have embarked on a decarbonization journey. Low- and zero-carbon hydrogen can make this journey possible. It can power vehicles, locomotives, and ships. It can be injected into the gas network and subsequently used to generate electricity and heat homes. Finally, it can be combined with captured carbon dioxide to produce climate-neutral chemicals and green diesel and jet fuel.

More about hydrogen

Nuclear - zero-carbon mainstay of Northern Europe

At the end of 2022, Germany’s remaining nuclear power plants will split their last atoms. In Northern Europe, by contrast, nuclear energy is far less controversial. Uniper has 1.4 GW of attributable nuclear capacity in Sweden, which relies on nuclear energy for about 40% of its electricity.

More about nuclear

Uniper engineer working at a nuclear power plant at OKG, Sweden

Coal - making a fast exit

Some of Uniper’s deepest roots are in countries — Germany, Britain, and Russia — that had abundant coal reserves. They used them. To make steel, to generate electricity, to fuel prosperity. We’ve operated some of Europe’s biggest and best coal-fired power stations.

More about coal

Uniper engineer inspecting a valve a plant in Maasvlakte

Wind and Solar - Making our power portfolio even greener