The deal and the players
PreussenElektra, part of E.ON SE, said Wednesday it is collaborating with Nvidia to evaluate converting former nuclear sites into data centers. The company offered no additional details.
Across Germany, PreussenElektra has eight nuclear power plants and is in the process of dismantling them.
Why former plants are on the shortlist
Operators are exploring ways to repurpose old nuclear properties while dismantling continues. These sites already plug into the power grid and retain much of the infrastructure data centers need, making them appealing candidates.
The broader backdrop
Germany powered down its remaining reactors in April 2023, sticking with the post-Fukushima policy set 12 years earlier. Decommissioning and dismantling work is underway at around 30 nuclear plants nationwide.
Utilities can also generate additional revenue by selling former power-plant sites. RWE and Uniper have identified several old coal-plant properties as potential disposals.
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What this means for your portfolio
In plain English: one utility is assessing whether its former nuclear sites could host data centers, while others are flagging legacy coal sites for possible sales. Existing grid connections and infrastructure are the draw, and potential site sales create another revenue lever for utilities.
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