RWE CEO Markus Krebber stated on October 7, 2026, that the surge in electricity demand from data centers is straining European grid infrastructure. He argued that current cost allocation models are unfair, as they risk shifting the financial burden of grid expansion from data center operators to households and smaller businesses.
The company is actively developing its own data center business through the Energised Land initiative, which repurposes industrial sites. RWE currently owns approximately 30 such sites, with 10 under development and 3 GW of grid capacity secured. Additionally, the firm has signed multiple power purchase agreements with tech companies.
RWE maintains a 55% stake in the German grid operator Amprion, a position partially financed by a €3.2 billion deal in 2025. This gives the company a dual role as both a power generator and a grid stakeholder, complicating its position on infrastructure funding.
Beyond Europe, RWE plans to expand its US energy generation capacity from 13 GW to 22 GW. The company has committed approximately €17 billion through 2031 to support this growth, specifically targeting demand from hyperscale data center operators.
