In Germany, international energy major Uniper SE has commenced the permanent closure of its Heyden 4 hard coal fired power plant in Petershagen near Minden. Uniper made the decision to shut down the 875 MW net capacity power plant at the end of 2020.
The Heyden 4 power plant currently employs 80 people, and Uniper is developing a master plan for the site in close consultation with the town of Petershagen to create future jobs.
The power plant Heyden has provided a reliable power supply for decades. This would not have been possible without the commitment of the entire staff. Now a new chapter is starting for us, and we are focusing on the decommissioning and further development of the site, Uwe Knorr, Power Plant Manager at Heyden 4.
Aiming for zero-carbon generation
Uniper intends to be completely carbon-neutral by 2040 and aims for its installed power generating capacity to be more than 80 percent zero-carbon by 2030.
To achieve this, the company is transforming its power plants and facilities and investing in flexible, dispatchable power-generating units.
Since 1987, our employees at the power plant Heyden 4 have made an important contribution to the security of supply in Northern and Western Germany. Electricity has been generated at the site itself since 1951. The final shutdown is a consistent step both for the Federal Republic of Germany to phase out coal-fired power generation and as part of the transformation of the Uniper portfolio, said Holger Kreetz, COO of Uniper SE.
Expand the green gas portfolio
Uniper’s operations encompass power generation in Europe, particularly in its core markets of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands, global energy trading, and a broad gas portfolio.
Uniper procures gas—including liquefied natural gas (LNG)—and other energy sources on global markets. The company owns and operates gas storage facilities with a combined storage capacity of over 7 billion Nm3.
The company is progressively expanding its gas portfolio to include green gases like hydrogen and biomethane, aiming to convert to these gases over the long term.
Uniper is already one of Europe’s largest hydropower plant operators and is helping further expand solar and wind power, essential for a more sustainable and secure future.
