Hydrogen
Uniper sells 20% Opal stake to Hy24 as pipeline pivots to hydrogen
Hy24, a leading investor in the hydrogen sector, is acquiring the stake through its Clean Hydrogen Infrastructure Fund
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By ICN Bureau | September 15, 2026
Uniper is selling its 20% stake in the OPAL gas transmission pipeline to Hy24, marking another step in the energy company’s portfolio realignment and giving a major hydrogen-sector investor a foothold in one of Europe’s key energy corridors.
Hy24, a leading investor in the hydrogen sector, is acquiring the stake through its Clean Hydrogen Infrastructure Fund. The investment platform focuses on infrastructure, technology and industrial projects aimed at accelerating the development of a climate-neutral hydrogen economy.
The transaction covers 100% of the shares in Lubmin-Brandov Assets GmbH & Co. KG, which holds a 20% co-ownership interest in OPAL. The remaining 80% is owned by GASCADE Gastransport GmbH.
For Uniper, the sale is also a regulatory requirement. The divestment forms part of the structural remedies imposed by the European Commission as a condition of its approval of the company’s stabilization package under EU state aid rules.
On December 20, 2022, the European Commission approved the stabilization package for Uniper and set out a series of structural remedies that the company must fulfil. At the same time, the sale supports Uniper’s strategy of sharpening its portfolio around its core business activities.
OPAL remains a strategically important piece of Europe’s energy infrastructure. Stretching approximately 470 kilometres from Lubmin in Germany to Brandov in the Czech Republic, the pipeline is one of Europe’s largest transmission corridors.
Its role is now evolving beyond conventional gas infrastructure. As part of Germany’s hydrogen core network, OPAL is being progressively converted for hydrogen transport. The northern section was converted in mid-December 2025, while the southern section is expected to follow by the end of 2030.
The transaction therefore comes at a pivotal moment for OPAL, as the pipeline transitions toward a role in Europe’s emerging hydrogen infrastructure.
