Stromanschluss inklusive: Uniper will Rechenzentren an Kraftwerksstandorten ansiedeln

Energy firm Uniper has outlined its plans to generate revenue by locating data centers at power plant sites, according to CEO Michael Lewis in Düsseldorf. Lewis stated that Uniper is developing its power plant locations into hubs for the AI economy, identifying more than ten sites with suitable infrastructure across Europe. Three projects are in advanced development, with a first project in the UK already completed and further investment decisions expected this year.

Lewis emphasized that AI requires safe and reliable energy, highlighting the bottleneck for building new data centers as network connections. Uniper has already secured connections at many of its power plant sites, addressing the issue of developers often waiting years for connection promises in Germany. The energy company RWE is also developing data centers on its industrial sites, with around ten projects in development.

Uniper anticipates a more optimistic outlook for the entire year following the first six months of 2026, with profit forecasts confirmed and lower bounds raised. The adjusted net profit is now expected to be between 500 and 600 million euros, 150 million euros more than previously expected in the worst-case scenario. The positive trend continued in the second quarter, with Uniper earning nearly 90 percent more in operating profit in the first half of the year compared to the previous year, benefiting from strong gas trading operations due to avoiding costly renovation measures.

However, an unplanned outage of a Swedish nuclear power plant adversely affected the business. Uniper's adjusted profit nearly tripled to 388 million euros. The company, once in a precarious position as the largest German gas importer in 2022 due to Russia's gas supply suspension after the Ukraine invasion, received billions in government aid and became a virtual owner.

The government has since initiated the sale, but full separation is yet to be achieved. Uniper is also in talks for an initial public offering, alongside being a major player in electricity generation and gas trading in Europe. The company operates coal and gas power plants in Germany, the UK, and Sweden, as well as hydroelectric power in Sweden, where it is the majority owner of a nuclear power plant. In Germany, Uniper is the largest operator of gas storage.