Sydkraft
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFormer Swedish energy company, now E.ON Sweden
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Sydkraft was a historic Swedish energy company founded in 1906, headquartered in Malmö. It was involved in electricity, gas, and heat supply. Acquired by German E.ON in 2001, later renamed E.ON Sverige.
History
Sydkraft's corporate history reaches back to 1906, when Sydsvenska Kraftaktiebolaget was founded in southern Sweden with August Schmitz as chief executive. The company began as a hydroelectric producer and developed alongside the expansion of Sweden's regional electricity system. Its participation in the 1915 construction of the Öresund cable connected Swedish and Danish electricity networks and marked an early international infrastructure role. The business later diversified into nuclear generation. Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned in 1971, with Sydsvenska Kraftaktiebolaget holding a major share. Six years later, the company changed its name to Sydkraft, establishing the identity that would remain associated with its Swedish power operations for decades. In 2001, E.ON acquired a majority stake in Sydkraft AB. The transaction brought the Swedish company into the E.ON international energy group and was reported as being worth about US$6.5 billion. Sydkraft expanded further in Sweden by acquiring Graninge in 2004. On 16 September 2005, the company formally changed its corporate name to E.ON Sverige. The following year, it sold its broadband network to Tele2. Ownership and asset composition changed again in 2008, when E.ON and Statkraft completed an asset-swap agreement. E.ON received Statkraft's 44.6 percent stake in E.ON Sverige in exchange for assets valued at approximately €4.5 billion. This gave E.ON full control of the Swedish company, subject to the wider corporate arrangements of the E.ON group. The separation of Uniper from E.ON subsequently divided the Swedish business. Thermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric generation moved to Uniper, while E.ON retained non-hydro renewable generation, energy services, distribution, and retail sales. Uniper later restored the Sydkraft name for its Swedish operations. The historical E.ON Sverige name therefore describes a major phase in the company's development, whereas Sydkraft is also used for the Swedish operation associated with Uniper after the separation.
- 2008
E.ON–Statkraft asset exchange
[1]E.ON and Statkraft completed an agreement through which E.ON acquired Statkraft's 44.6 percent stake in E.ON Sverige in exchange for assets valued at approximately €4.5 billion.
- 2006
Broadband network sold to Tele2
[1]E.ON Sverige divested its broadband network to Tele2.
- 2005
Renamed E.ON Sverige
[1]Sydkraft AB changed its corporate name to E.ON Sverige on 16 September.
- 2004
Graninge acquisition
[1]Sydkraft acquired the Swedish energy company Graninge.
- 2001
E.ON acquired a majority interest
[1]E.ON acquired majority ownership of Sydkraft AB in a transaction reported at approximately US$6.5 billion.
- 1977
Name changed to Sydkraft
[1]The company adopted the shorter Sydkraft name.
- 1971
Oskarshamn nuclear plant commissioned
[1]Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant entered service with Sydsvenska Kraftaktiebolaget as a major shareholder.
- 1915
Öresund electricity interconnection
[1]The company participated with Swedish and Danish electricity interests in building the first electricity interconnection between Sweden and Denmark.
- 1906
Foundation as Sydsvenska Kraftaktiebolaget
[1]The company was established in southern Sweden as a hydroelectric power producer, with August Schmitz as chief executive.
Swedish assets divided during the Uniper separation
[1]Thermal, nuclear, and hydro generation moved to Uniper, while E.ON retained non-hydro renewables, services, distribution, and retail activities.
Products and positioning
A Swedish energy company with a long regional-generation heritage, historically associated with E.ON Sverige and later with Uniper's Swedish operations.
Power generation · 1906
Hydroelectric power
Hydroelectric generation was the company's original business and remained an important part of its historical Swedish generation portfolio. Following the E.ON–Uniper separation, hydroelectric assets were allocated to Uniper's Swedish operations.
Power generation · 1971
Nuclear power
Sydkraft entered nuclear generation during the 1970s and was a major shareholder when the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned in 1971. Swedish nuclear generation later transferred to Uniper during the separation from E.ON.
Power generation
Thermal power
Thermal generation formed part of the company's broader generation portfolio. These assets were among the Swedish operations transferred from E.ON to Uniper during the corporate separation.
Energy supply
Electricity distribution and retail
Distribution and retail electricity activities were part of the E.ON Sverige business and were retained by E.ON rather than transferred with the thermal, nuclear, and hydro generation assets.
Energy services
Energy services and renewable energy
The E.ON-side Swedish portfolio retained renewable generation other than hydroelectric power, together with energy services. These activities represent the part of the former Swedish business that remained outside the Uniper generation operation.
Brand decisions
2008
E.ON–Statkraft asset exchangeM&ABackground
Statkraft held a 44.6 percent shareholding in E.ON Sverige, while E.ON and Statkraft sought to reorganize their energy assets.
Action taken
E.ON acquired Statkraft's stake through an asset exchange valued at approximately €4.5 billion.
Aftermath
E.ON strengthened its control over the Swedish company and its related operations.
Asset-exchange value. (2008)
2006
Broadband network divestmentStrategyBackground
E.ON Sverige held a broadband network in addition to its energy activities.
Action taken
The company sold the broadband network to Tele2.
Aftermath
The divestment reduced the company's activities outside the energy sector.
2005
Adoption of the E.ON Sverige corporate identityStrategyBackground
After E.ON acquired majority ownership of Sydkraft, the group aligned the Swedish company with its international brand.
Action taken
Sydkraft AB changed its corporate name to E.ON Sverige on 16 September 2005.
Aftermath
The Sydkraft name later returned for the Swedish operations associated with Uniper after the separation of Uniper from E.ON.
- Allocation of Swedish activities during the Uniper separationStrategy
Background
The separation of Uniper from E.ON required the Swedish business to be divided by activity.
Action taken
Thermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric generation were transferred to Uniper, while non-hydro renewables, services, distribution, and retail remained with E.ON.
Aftermath
Uniper reused the Sydkraft name for its Swedish operations, while E.ON continued its retained Swedish energy businesses under the E.ON identity.
Sources2 sources
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