Close Menu
  • Featured
    • News
    • Consumption
    • Environment
    • Industry
    • Opinion
    • Policy
    • Production
    • Storage
    • Transmission
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of China's massive laser fusion laboratory in Mianyang, generated by artificial intelligence.
“They’re Building the World’s Biggest Fusion Laser”: U.S. Satellite Reveals China’s Secret Race Toward Unlimited Energy Domination
Illustration of the U.S. military's groundbreaking wireless energy transmission experiment, created by artificial intelligence.
“They Just Beamed Power Through the Air Like Sci-Fi”: U.S. Military Destroys Wireless Energy Transmission Record With Shocking Test
Illustration of China's colossal nuclear fusion center under construction, surpassing the size of the U.S.'s National Ignition Facility, created by artificial intelligence.
“It’s Bigger Than Anything We Imagined”: China’s Secret Nuclear Fusion Facility Spotted From Space Sparks Global Alarm
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
Energy Reporters
Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
Subscribe
  • Featured
  • News
    Illustration of China's massive laser fusion laboratory in Mianyang, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They’re Building the World’s Biggest Fusion Laser”: U.S. Satellite Reveals China’s Secret Race Toward Unlimited Energy Domination

    July 19, 2025 at 10:10 AM
    Illustration of China's colossal nuclear fusion center under construction, surpassing the size of the U.S.'s National Ignition Facility, created by artificial intelligence.

    “It’s Bigger Than Anything We Imagined”: China’s Secret Nuclear Fusion Facility Spotted From Space Sparks Global Alarm

    July 19, 2025 at 8:12 AM
    Illustration of nuclear-powered spacecraft propelled by solar sails in space, generated by artificial intelligence.

    Blasting Into Space With Nukes and Light: This Radical Propulsion Concept Could Redefine Deep Space Travel Faster Than Anything Before

    July 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
    Illustration of Nexus, an advanced AI-powered supercomputer developed by Georgia Tech.

    “We Gave AI $20 Million to Rethink Science”: Nexus Super-System Set to Turbocharge US Innovation Like Never Before

    July 18, 2025 at 9:06 AM
    Illustration of Apple's collaboration with MP Materials to enhance rare earth material supply chains, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “We’re Cutting China Out”: Apple Strikes $500M Deal to Break Free from Chinese Rare Earths and Reinvent Its Global Supply Chain

    July 18, 2025 at 8:14 AM
  • Use
    Illustration of the contrasting lifespans of gas and electric vehicles in the evolving automotive industry, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “These Numbers Will Shock Every Driver”: Landmark Study Reveals Gas Cars Last 12 Years While Electric Vehicles Average Just 3, Sending Shockwaves Through the Industryers”: Disturbing Study Reveals Gas Cars Last 12 Years, Electric Only 3

    July 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM

    Trump’s Energy Policy: A Complicated Road Ahead

    December 24, 2024 at 3:28 PM

    World’s First Grid-Scale Nuclear Fusion Plant to Be Built in Virginia

    December 23, 2024 at 2:57 PM

    How West Africa can expand power supply and meet climate goals

    June 15, 2020 at 6:33 AM

    Saudi Aramco shares tumble amid price war 

    March 10, 2020 at 1:18 AM
  • Climate
    Illustration of the world's largest high-altitude wind farm in Tibet, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They Built It on the Roof of the World”: World’s Highest-Altitude Wind Farm Just Launched in Tibet With Record-Breaking Power

    July 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
    Illustration of space-based reflectors redirecting solar light to Earth during nighttime, generated by artificial intelligence.

    Space Mirrors Are Coming: This Bold Solar Energy Project Aims to Beam Sunlight From Orbit Straight Into Photovoltaic Farms

    July 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
    Illustration of the wake effect impacting offshore wind turbines, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They’re Losing Wind—and Millions”: The Devastating Wake Effect Threatening Offshore Wind Farms and the Race to Stop It

    July 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
    Illustration of a cooling ceiling system using chilled water tubes to regulate indoor temperatures, generated by artificial intelligence.

    No More AC, No More Fans: This Revolutionary Home Cooling Method Is Taking Over and Saving Households a Fortune in Energy

    July 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
    Illustration of natural hydrogen exploration in Siberia, generated by artificial intelligence.

    A Hidden Ocean of Hydrogen Found in Siberia Could Fuel the Planet for Generations and Disrupt the Entire Fossil Fuel Economy

    July 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
  • Industry
    Illustration of the partnership between Westinghouse and Google Cloud using AI to advance nuclear construction, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They’re Letting AI Build Nuclear Reactors”: Google and Westinghouse Unleash Machine-Driven Power That Could Reshape the Planet

    July 19, 2025 at 6:08 AM
    Illustration of a groundbreaking hybrid alloy for quantum chips, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “We Engineered the Impossible”: German Scientists Create World’s First Hybrid Alloy to Power the Next Generation of Quantum Chips

    July 18, 2025 at 7:02 AM
    Illustration of the Lamborghini Temerario GT3, a high-performance race car designed for GT3 racing, showcasing its advanced engineering and aerodynamic features; this is an artificial illustration.

    “They Turned a Supercar Into a Missile”: Lamborghini’s New Temerario GT3 Unleashes Brutal Power and Racing Precision for 2026 Debut

    July 15, 2025 at 10:08 AM
    Illustration of the Zeekr 9X hybrid crossover showcasing its innovative design and advanced technology, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They Laughed at Chinese Cars—Not Anymore”: New Hybrid EV Hits 621-Mile Range and 0–60 in 3.1 Seconds

    July 15, 2025 at 9:04 AM
    Illustration of the advanced 3D printing system developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and JuggerBot 3D to integrate thermoset and thermoplastic materials, created by artificial intelligence.

    “They Just Cracked the Code for Supersonic Manufacturing”: U.S. Lab Unveils Dual-Material 3D Printing to Reinvent Flight and Power

    July 15, 2025 at 6:54 AM
  • Opinion

    Pulling back the curtain on Turkey’s natural gas strategy

    September 1, 2020 at 5:59 AM

    How West Africa can expand power supply and meet climate goals

    June 15, 2020 at 6:33 AM

    Review: Oil and the Great Powers: Britain and Germany, 1914 to 1945

    June 9, 2020 at 5:40 AM

    Eastern Mediterranean gas: testing the field

    May 27, 2020 at 5:18 AM

    Energy geopolitics will hinge on the nationalism-globalism swinging door

    May 5, 2020 at 1:37 AM
  • Policy

    Trump’s Global Influence Wanes Amid Rising Foreign Policy Setbacks

    May 31, 2025 at 5:48 PM

    Glaciers in Crisis: Nearly 40% of Global Ice Mass is Already Lost

    May 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM

    iPhone Prices May Triple if Made in the U.S., Analyst Warns

    May 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM

    Labubu Craze: The Cute, Creepy Plush Toy Taking Over the World

    May 17, 2025 at 8:40 AM

    RFK Jr’s Vaccine Views Clash with Measles Outbreak Reality

    April 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
  • Output
    Illustration of China producing its first barrel of natural uranium from the 'National No 1 Uranium' project in Inner Mongolia, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Unleashing a Uranium Giant”: China Triumphantly Extracts First 55-Gallon Barrel from This Massive Natural Uranium Project, Sparking Global Ripples

    July 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
    Illustration of the world’s first integrated hydrogen production simulator within a Small Modular Reactor control room, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “The Future Is Here, and It’s Terrifying”: World’s First Hydrogen-Generating Nuclear Reactor Launches in the US, Sparking Global Energy Revolution

    July 9, 2025 at 7:01 AM

    Billionaire Backlash Grows Against Trump’s Aggressive Tariff Plans

    May 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM

    McDonald’s Sees Worst Sales Since 2020 Amid Uncertainty

    May 1, 2025 at 8:23 AM

    Europe’s Economic Rebound Stalls as U.S. Tariffs Cast a Shadow

    April 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
  • Storage
    Illustration of a revolutionary lithium metal battery equipped with a built-in flame suppressant, highlighting its enhanced safety and efficiency, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “It Puts Out Its Own Fires”: Breakthrough Lithium Battery Unleashed With Built-In Safety System That Could End Explosive Failures Forever

    July 19, 2025 at 6:57 AM
    Illustration of Finland's largest sand battery for renewable energy storage, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They’re Storing Energy in Sand!”: Finland Unveils World’s Largest Sand Battery in a Bold Move to Revolutionize Clean Power Storage

    July 16, 2025 at 4:59 PM
    Illustration of researchers at the University of Alberta developing advanced water-based batteries.

    “They Replaced Lithium with Water!”: Scientists Unveil Battery Breakthrough That’s Safer, Cheaper, and Ready to Transform Energy Storage

    July 16, 2025 at 5:48 AM
    Illustration of a predictive model accurately forecasting lithium metal anode failures in battery technology, created by artificial intelligence.

    China Unveils Groundbreaking Lithium Battery Tech That Flags Deadly Failures Seconds Before the Battery Fully Activates

    July 14, 2025 at 7:50 AM
    Illustration of the internal chemistry of battery materials affecting energy flow, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “These Hidden Hot Spots Hold the Key”: Scientists Uncover Secret Zones to Build Ultra-Durable EV Batteries, Triggering a Breakthrough in Car Longevity

    July 12, 2025 at 8:10 AM
  • Grid
    Illustration of the U.S. military's groundbreaking wireless energy transmission experiment, created by artificial intelligence.

    “They Just Beamed Power Through the Air Like Sci-Fi”: U.S. Military Destroys Wireless Energy Transmission Record With Shocking Test

    July 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
    Illustration of DARPA's wireless power transmission experiment, beaming energy over 5.3 miles.

    “They Just Beamed Power Over 5 Miles to Make Popcorn”: DARPA’s Wireless Energy Breakthrough Redefines What’s Technically Possible

    July 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
    Illustration of a revolutionary laser amplifier technology designed to increase data transmission speeds, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They Just Unlocked Super Lasers!”: Breakthrough Amplifier Could Make the Internet 10× Faster and Launch a New Era of Light-Speed Data

    July 16, 2025 at 7:10 AM
    Illustration of a TGV train equipped with satellite internet technology, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Elon Musk Promises to End France’s TGV Wi-Fi Nightmare”: Starlink Solution Set to Transform Train Travel With Blazing Internet Speeds

    July 10, 2025 at 8:53 AM

    Australian grid struggles with renewables boom: report

    February 24, 2020 at 5:32 AM
Energy Reporters

Czech firm extends thermal grip

Eirwen WilliamsEirwen WilliamsDecember 11, 2017 at 4:01 PM0
Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Google News
Share
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link

Aged power plants in the Czech Republic and elsewhere fired by coal, gas and lignite are being bought by EPH, a private electricity producer founded eight years ago.
It is buying up “thermal” plants that use steam to generate electricity from older firms that are switching to greener production.
The Czech firm was set up by Daniel Křetínský, who claims it is now the seventh-biggest energy company in Europe, generating more than 100 terawatt hours of electricity.
It bought German giant Eon’s Italian gas and coal-fired power operations in 2015 and Vattenfall’s lignite, or brown coal, mines and power plants in Germany in 2016.
The acquisitions do not mean the more established providers are in retreat.
Eon last month reaffirmed its positive outlook for this year after reporting a strong third quarter in part thanks to rising energy prices, which have been pushing up profits across the sector.
The Essen-based group, which announced a record loss last year as it struggled with a significant restructuring, saw underlying or operating profits of €350 million between July and September: a 13-per-cent increase on last year.
Revenues were up 5 per cent to €8.4 billion, boosted by rising sales in Sweden and central Europe and increased prices for renewables in Italy and the US.
EPH, meanwhile, recently acquired Centrica’s final remaining major central gas power stations in the UK.
“We stand ready to grow further,” Křetínský, a lawyer by training, told the Financial Times. The firm had strong links with J and T, the central European investment body and a former EPH shareholder, should larger deals become available, Křetínský said.
EPH began by buying up cheap infrastructural assets, such as gas transmission and distribution networks in Slovakia, after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. It then extended into power generation.
The firm is now being seen as a potential big player as the European utilities market divides further between cleaner energy providers and more-traditional thermal generators, which provided around 49 per cent of the EU’s electricity last year.
Finland’s Fortum made a recent unsolicited €8 billion offer for Uniper, which arose from Eon last year. If the bid is successful, analysts say Fortnum may look to offload some of Uniper’s assets, such as its coal, gas and hydro plants in Germany. EPH might well be interested.
“We are going to see a semi-regulated business with a decent, limited return on investments … substantially more stable and more predictable,” Křetínský said. With strong support, the viability of thermal production again becomes realistic, Křetínský added.

EPH has invested in the unfashionable end of power generation. Picture credit: Pixabay

 

Did you like it? 4.4/5 (29)

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Czech Republic Eon EPH Finland Fortum Germany Uniper
Follow on Google News Follow on X (Twitter)
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Previous ArticleMEPs demand energy-saving target
Next Article Ireland derailing renewable policy: activists
Eirwen Williams
  • X (Twitter)

Eirwen Williams is a Brussels-based journalist at Energy Reporters, specializing in European energy policy, market trends, technological innovation, and energy security. A graduate of NYU’s Journalism Institute, he examines how nations and industries are navigating the continent’s energy transition. With a focus on the forces driving change, his reporting highlights the interplay between regulation, infrastructure, and new technologies shaping Europe’s energy future. Contact: [email protected]

Keep Reading
Illustration of the U.S. military's groundbreaking wireless energy transmission experiment, created by artificial intelligence.

“They Just Beamed Power Through the Air Like Sci-Fi”: U.S. Military Destroys Wireless Energy Transmission Record With Shocking Test

Illustration of the partnership between Westinghouse and Google Cloud using AI to advance nuclear construction, generated by artificial intelligence.

“They’re Letting AI Build Nuclear Reactors”: Google and Westinghouse Unleash Machine-Driven Power That Could Reshape the Planet

Illustration of a groundbreaking hybrid alloy for quantum chips, generated by artificial intelligence.

“We Engineered the Impossible”: German Scientists Create World’s First Hybrid Alloy to Power the Next Generation of Quantum Chips

Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of China's massive laser fusion laboratory in Mianyang, generated by artificial intelligence.
“They’re Building the World’s Biggest Fusion Laser”: U.S. Satellite Reveals China’s Secret Race Toward Unlimited Energy Domination
Illustration of the U.S. military's groundbreaking wireless energy transmission experiment, created by artificial intelligence.
“They Just Beamed Power Through the Air Like Sci-Fi”: U.S. Military Destroys Wireless Energy Transmission Record With Shocking Test
Illustration of China's colossal nuclear fusion center under construction, surpassing the size of the U.S.'s National Ignition Facility, created by artificial intelligence.
“It’s Bigger Than Anything We Imagined”: China’s Secret Nuclear Fusion Facility Spotted From Space Sparks Global Alarm
News by category
  • Featured
  • News
  • Use
  • Climate
  • Industry
  • Opinion
  • Policy
  • Output
  • Storage
  • Grid
Information
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact Us
  • Legal Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
© Energy-Reporters.com. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.