Uniper is extending the market operation of the Heyden 4 and Staudinger 5 hard coal-fired power plants, a measure effective until 31 March 2024 at the lates.
The measure is being taken as part of the German government's Substitute Power Plant Provision Act to secure the energy supply in the coming winters. This law pursues the goal of using as little gas as possible for power generation and replacing it with other energy sources.
The 875 MW Heyden 4 power plant in Petershagen near Minden had already ceased commercial operation after an award in the first tender to reduce coal-fired power generation, but returned to the market in August from the grid reserve on the basis of the EKBG and the associated first ordinance. This first ordinance only allowed a return to the market until 30 April 2023. Now this term has been extended and continued operation is allowed until 31 March 2024.
The 510 MW Staudinger 5 hard coal-fired power plant near Hanau would have had to cease commercial operation on 21 May 2023 but instead of being used only in the grid reserve from 22 May, it is now going to remain on the market, also on the basis of the EKBG.
Both power plants will be used commercially to support the security of energy supply in Germany. Uniper is currently preparing for the continued operation of the 345 MW Scholven B hard coal-fired power plant in Gelsenkirchen beyond June 2023.
With Heyden 4, Scholven C, Irsching 3 (415 MW) and Staudinger 5 in operation Uniper will have brought around 2150 MW of capacity back into the German electricity market to reduce gas consumption during the current shortage.
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