E.on Germany

E.ON is a German electricity company headquartered in Düsseldorf and is another of big beasts of energy production. E.ON operates along the entire value chain of power and gas. In addition to its activities in Europe and Russia, the company operates an electric and gas power business and renewable-source generating assets in North America. With just under € 87 billion in sales and  about 88,000 employees around the world, it's one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. Founded in 2000, E.ON has feasted on other power companies, devouring Sweden's Sydcraft, Russia's OKG-4 and Powergen in the UK. 

At the end of 2009, E.ON owned total assets of US$ 87.3 billion (€ 68.7 billion) and generated sales of US$ 103.9 billion (€ 81.8 billion). E.ON's shares are traded on all German stock exchanges, the electronic stock exchange, and the New York Stock Exchange (as ADRs).

At the end of 2009, the total capacity of E.ON was 73,000 MW of which 25,619 MW consists of controlled coal-fired capacity. With this the company accounts for 1.5% of the global coal-fired generation capacity. The remaining part of E.ON's energy mix is as follows: 38% gas and oil-fired, 15% nuclear, 7% hydro and 6% other renewables.

For an overview of some of the power plants of the company please go to the business section of this company profile. The largest coal capacity of E.ON can be found in Western Europe and the United States. In the United States, E.ON operates through the subsidiaries Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU).

As stated above, 15% of E.ON's total electricity generating capacity comes from nuclear power. It operates three nuclear power stations in Germany and have a share in 17 others around the world. E.ON also talks about upgrading its reactors across northern Europe and want to build new reactors in Scandinavia.

In 2000 leaked emails showed how E.ON had withheld documents from inspectors at its Isar-1 reactor in Bavaria. The company owns a 50% share of the Krümmel reactor which was restarted in 2009 after being closed for two years by a fire. Two weeks later the reactor was shut down again by a short circuit. E.ON also own 50% of Sweden's Oskarshamn nuclear power plant whose reactors are identical to the one that came dangerous close to a meltdown at the country's Forsmark reactor in 2006.

In addition to the company's operating power plants, E.ON has several plans for new coal-fired power plants. One of these plans was a new 1,100 coal-fired power plant in the Antwerp harbour, for which E.ON had requested a permit. However, in September 2010, the environment minister for the Belgian province of Antwerp, Rik Röttger, said in a statement he could not justify a permit. Therefore, the project is probably cancelled.

For an overview of all coal-fired power plants which are currently planned by E.ON go to the business section of this profile. If all these projects are realized, the capacity of E.ON would increase by 6,510 MW. The list shows that E.ON has three projects in Germany and one in Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. The new 1,110 MW power plant in the Netherlands is already under construction and planned to be operational in 2012.

E.on is one of the largest investor owned energy company