Start / A pan European company

A pan European company

In the early 2000s, Vattenfall achieved its real European breakthrough. The company expanded rapidly, primarily in Germany, and within a few years became Germany's third largest electricity producer. Today, Vattenfall is active in three main markets: Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands.

Articles

First steps abroad

The 1990s saw drastic changes within the electricity industry. Internationalisation became a buzzword, but it would take a long time for Vattenfall to achieve a breakthrough in its efforts to establish business operations outside Sweden.

A European player

When the European electricity market was deregulated, Vattenfall aimed high. The plan was primarily to penetrate the German market, the largest in Europe. And it went well. In the early 2000s, Vattenfall was Germany's third largest electricity producer.

Chronology HEW (Hamburg)

In 1879, electric lighting was used on the wharves in Hamburg's harbour for the first time. Now, ships could also be loaded and unloaded at night.

How it all began (HEW – Hamburg)

Electrification and electricity supply in Hamburg is closely associated with Hamburgische Electricitäts-Werke (HEW). The company has always been a reliable supplier of energy in Hamburg - from 1894 right down to today.

Early District Heating/Ownership of HEW (Hamburg)

The history of district heating in Hamburg goes back almost 120 years. The first German heating plant was built here. And today, just as a century ago, the question is being discussed whether district heating and electricity grids should be run publicly or privately.

Chronology Bewag (Berlin)

In 1884, Deutsche Edison-Gesellschaft used 3 million German Marks to set up the public limited company “Städtische Elektricitäts-Werke”. It was tasked with the commercial exploitation of electricity for lighting and power transmission in the current and future municipal area of the city of Berlin.

Berlin electrified (Bewag)

The Germany-wide patent for the Edison light bulb sounded the starting shot. Emil Rathenau and Oskar von Miller thus laid the cornerstone for the success story of electricity in Berlin. Electricity caught on; from being a luxury, it became an essential local advantage.

Separation and reunion (Bewag – Berlin)

Nowhere is German history so tangible as in Berlin. Isolated operation in West Berlin required all reserves, especially during the blockade. In the East, the recovery continued despite the planned economy. The merger after reunification brought new challenges.

NUON – the story behind the company that Vattenfall purchased

NUON was set up in 1994 when a number of regional and local energy companies merged with Amsterdam's energy utility.

Vattenfall's expansion and divestments

Vattenfall's strong expansion in Europe was based on the hope that trade in emission allowances would solve the climate issue and the price of electricity would continue to rise. But, with the economic crisis around 2009, demand fell.