Hydropower indispensable

At a glance

Hydropower delivers reliable, flexible, low-carbon electricity – meeting the growing demand for certified green power across many industries.
Uniper has been operating hydropower for over 125 years and, with more than 100 facilities, holds approximately 3.6 GW of installed capacity in Germany and Sweden.
Hydropower strengthens grid stability and currently offers the only means of storing larger volumes of energy over the long term.
Uniper combines power generation with flood protection and nature conservation.

Secure energy from water

Renewable energy is on the rise. That makes our energy system more environmentally friendly, but also increasingly weather dependent. Hydropower is a renewable, low-carbon energy source that is more reliable and can be ramped up flexibly.

Across many industries, demand for certified green electricity is growing. This is particularly true in the utilities, automotive, food, and high-tech sectors. Hydropower can meet this need flexibly and reliably.

Hydropower is deeply rooted in Germany's energy landscape: Uniper has been generating electricity from water for more than 125 years. Today, with over 100 facilities, we have 2 GW of hydropower capacity in Germany and 1.6 GW in Sweden. In Germany, this comprises five power plant groups that can produce enough energy for approximately 1.6 million homes.

Uniper combines power generation with environmental responsibility

Wherever we operate hydropower plants, we support the region and are committed to protecting the surrounding natural environment. This includes flood protection. Excess water volumes can be managed through controllable reservoirs and storage facilities or deliberately redirected into other rivers or river sections. This makes living and working along rivers safer and reduces risks for agricultural land. Beyond that, Uniper invests in cleaning rivers of debris and waste.

Many of our hydropower facilities are surrounded by nature reserves that serve as valuable recreation areas for people and provide protected habitats for wildlife. When the Main power plant group was built, for example, new ecosystems emerged – and Uniper actively supports their maintenance and expansion, including by carefully managing groundwater levels to preserve riverside floodplain forests (Auwälder).

Since run-of-river power plants can pose impassable barriers for fish and other aquatic life, we ensure that alternative pathways are available. These include artificial streams, fish passes, and fish ladders. As part of further conservation projects at our hydropower plants, we also create nesting sites for birds as well as protected zones and spawning grounds for fish.

FAQ

Hydropower makes an important contribution to Germany's energy supply through low-carbon, flexibly available electricity. Pumped-storage power plants also currently offer the only way to store larger volumes of energy on a long-term basis and make them flexibly accessible. This means hydropower also plays a vital role in balancing grid fluctuations and stabilising the network.

Hydropower plants make a significant contribution to local flood protection. Excess water can, for example, be temporarily retained through controllable reservoirs and storage facilities and released in a controlled manner. This helps absorb flood peaks and reduce the burden on downstream regions.

Unlike wind and solar, hydropower is less dependent on weather conditions. This makes it an important renewable energy source that can be flexibly dispatched, reliably strengthening security of supply.

Producing electricity from hydropower in harmony with nature is a priority for Uniper. Operating hydropower plants also carries an obligation to treat the flora and fauna in and around waterways with care. For example, our run-of-river power plants provide fish and other aquatic life with alternative pathways – an artificial stream, a fish pass, or a fish ladder. Further conservation projects at our hydropower plants include nesting sites for birds as well as protected zones and spawning grounds for fish.

Learn more about our contribution to security of supply

Hydropower in Germany

Hydropower provides renewable energy that can be flexibly dispatched around the clock. It is generation and flexibility. Uniper has harnessed this for over 125 years, and it remains indispensable.

Hydropower in Germany

Pumped-storage power plant group

Uniper operates 5 pumped-storage power plants in Germany with 884 MW of installed generation capacity, storing surplus energy. Currently the only way to store larger volumes of energy long-term.

Pumped-storage power plant group