Lightbucket
@lightbucket.bsky.social
20 years in academic physics, then 20 years running a physics-based tech company, now drifting towards semi-retirement.
Looking at:
decarbonisation; energy;
Russia's war in Ukraine.
Blog on Wordpress: https://lightbucket.wordpress.com/
Looking at:
decarbonisation; energy;
Russia's war in Ukraine.
Blog on Wordpress: https://lightbucket.wordpress.com/
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#pricescrapbook entry for UK offshore wind;
Ørsted sells 50% of the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm for €5.2 bn (£4.5 bn),
which prices the capacity at
£3100/kW of nameplate capacity.
#pricescrapbook entry for UK offshore wind;
Ørsted sells 50% of the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm for €5.2 bn (£4.5 bn),
which prices the capacity at
£3100/kW of nameplate capacity.
Apollo Becomes Co-Owner of Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm
Ørsted has completed the divestment of a 50 per cent stake in the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm to Apollo-managed funds.
www.offshorewind.biz
January 4, 2026 at 1:12 PM
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#pricescrapbook entry for UK offshore wind;
Ørsted sells 50% of the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm for €5.2 bn (£4.5 bn),
which prices the capacity at
£3100/kW of nameplate capacity.
#pricescrapbook entry for UK offshore wind;
Ørsted sells 50% of the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm for €5.2 bn (£4.5 bn),
which prices the capacity at
£3100/kW of nameplate capacity.
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Fraunhofer ISE's electricity export/import data for 2025 show France as the main exporter in Europe, and the UK as the second largest importer (after Italy).
The UK imported 32.6 TWh*, or 3.7 GW average throughout the year.
(*not 30.3 TWh, which treats flows to N. Ireland as exports/imports)
Fraunhofer ISE's electricity export/import data for 2025 show France as the main exporter in Europe, and the UK as the second largest importer (after Italy).
The UK imported 32.6 TWh*, or 3.7 GW average throughout the year.
(*not 30.3 TWh, which treats flows to N. Ireland as exports/imports)
January 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
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Fraunhofer ISE's electricity export/import data for 2025 show France as the main exporter in Europe, and the UK as the second largest importer (after Italy).
The UK imported 32.6 TWh*, or 3.7 GW average throughout the year.
(*not 30.3 TWh, which treats flows to N. Ireland as exports/imports)
Fraunhofer ISE's electricity export/import data for 2025 show France as the main exporter in Europe, and the UK as the second largest importer (after Italy).
The UK imported 32.6 TWh*, or 3.7 GW average throughout the year.
(*not 30.3 TWh, which treats flows to N. Ireland as exports/imports)
Reposted by Lightbucket
Global solar generation topped 540 GW in April, says Solcast #energysky -- via pv magazine global: www.pv-magazine.com/...
January 3, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Global solar generation topped 540 GW in April, says Solcast #energysky -- via pv magazine global: www.pv-magazine.com/...
Reposted by Lightbucket
Trump's actions in Venezuela shows why it was wrong to dismiss his threats to Greenland. If he's willing to do this, he will be willing to do anything
January 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Trump's actions in Venezuela shows why it was wrong to dismiss his threats to Greenland. If he's willing to do this, he will be willing to do anything
E-bikes cutting 1% of world oil demand:
❝ 280 million electric mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, and three-wheelers on the road last year … are cutting demand for oil by a million barrels of oil a day—about 1% of the world’s total oil demand, according to estimates by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.❞
❝ 280 million electric mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, and three-wheelers on the road last year … are cutting demand for oil by a million barrels of oil a day—about 1% of the world’s total oil demand, according to estimates by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.❞
280 million e-bikes are slashing oil demand far more than electric vehicles
E-bikes and scooters displace 4x as much demand for oil as all of the EVs in the world.
arstechnica.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:18 PM
E-bikes cutting 1% of world oil demand:
❝ 280 million electric mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, and three-wheelers on the road last year … are cutting demand for oil by a million barrels of oil a day—about 1% of the world’s total oil demand, according to estimates by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.❞
❝ 280 million electric mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, and three-wheelers on the road last year … are cutting demand for oil by a million barrels of oil a day—about 1% of the world’s total oil demand, according to estimates by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.❞
Poland has the highest carbon emissions intensity of electricity generation in the EU, and runs the Bełchatów lignite power plant, 5.1 GW, the largest coal plant in Europe.
But its renewables generation is rising fast,
10% solar and 14% wind in 2024:
👇
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
But its renewables generation is rising fast,
10% solar and 14% wind in 2024:
👇
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
January 2, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Poland has the highest carbon emissions intensity of electricity generation in the EU, and runs the Bełchatów lignite power plant, 5.1 GW, the largest coal plant in Europe.
But its renewables generation is rising fast,
10% solar and 14% wind in 2024:
👇
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
But its renewables generation is rising fast,
10% solar and 14% wind in 2024:
👇
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
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Fraunhofer ISE's data now show Germany's full year electricity mix for 2025.
The changes from 2024 are:
Natural gas is up 8.8 TWh, or 20.2%
Hard coal is up 2.9 TWh, or 12.2%
Lignite is down 3.9 TWh, or −5.5%
TOTAL fossil fuel generation is up 6.7 TWh, or 4.4%
Fraunhofer ISE's data now show Germany's full year electricity mix for 2025.
The changes from 2024 are:
Natural gas is up 8.8 TWh, or 20.2%
Hard coal is up 2.9 TWh, or 12.2%
Lignite is down 3.9 TWh, or −5.5%
TOTAL fossil fuel generation is up 6.7 TWh, or 4.4%
January 1, 2026 at 1:16 PM
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Fraunhofer ISE's data now show Germany's full year electricity mix for 2025.
The changes from 2024 are:
Natural gas is up 8.8 TWh, or 20.2%
Hard coal is up 2.9 TWh, or 12.2%
Lignite is down 3.9 TWh, or −5.5%
TOTAL fossil fuel generation is up 6.7 TWh, or 4.4%
Fraunhofer ISE's data now show Germany's full year electricity mix for 2025.
The changes from 2024 are:
Natural gas is up 8.8 TWh, or 20.2%
Hard coal is up 2.9 TWh, or 12.2%
Lignite is down 3.9 TWh, or −5.5%
TOTAL fossil fuel generation is up 6.7 TWh, or 4.4%
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It's the new year, which of course means only one thing:
Electricity data for the full year of 2025 is becoming available.
Fraunhofer's Energy-Charts (mostly for Germany and Germany-related data) is very quick off the mark:
🧵
👇
⸻
Ref: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, ISE
It's the new year, which of course means only one thing:
Electricity data for the full year of 2025 is becoming available.
Fraunhofer's Energy-Charts (mostly for Germany and Germany-related data) is very quick off the mark:
🧵
👇
⸻
Ref: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, ISE
Energy-Charts
Die Energy-Charts bieten interaktive Grafiken zu: Stromproduktion, Stromerzeugung, Emissionen, Klimadaten, Spotmarktpreisen, Szenarien zur Energiewende und eine umfangreiche Kartenanwendung zu: Kraftw...
www.energy-charts.info
January 1, 2026 at 12:47 PM
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It's the new year, which of course means only one thing:
Electricity data for the full year of 2025 is becoming available.
Fraunhofer's Energy-Charts (mostly for Germany and Germany-related data) is very quick off the mark:
🧵
👇
⸻
Ref: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, ISE
It's the new year, which of course means only one thing:
Electricity data for the full year of 2025 is becoming available.
Fraunhofer's Energy-Charts (mostly for Germany and Germany-related data) is very quick off the mark:
🧵
👇
⸻
Ref: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, ISE
Alan Rusbridger interviews Neil Kinnock:
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👇
Neil Kinnock: Labour is ‘100 per cent wrong’ on Reform
The former Labour leader on his party’s ‘mortally stupid’ response to Nigel Farage, and what Rachel Reeves must do next
alanrusbridger.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Alan Rusbridger interviews Neil Kinnock:
👇
👇
Allocation Round 7 of the UK's Contracts for Difference auction scheme is nearing its conclusion.
DESNZ will publish the successful projects for fixed bottom and floating offshore wind technologies on 14th January 2026.
(All other technologies are in Allocation Round 7a, with a separate schedule).
DESNZ will publish the successful projects for fixed bottom and floating offshore wind technologies on 14th January 2026.
(All other technologies are in Allocation Round 7a, with a separate schedule).
www.cfdallocationround.uk
December 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Allocation Round 7 of the UK's Contracts for Difference auction scheme is nearing its conclusion.
DESNZ will publish the successful projects for fixed bottom and floating offshore wind technologies on 14th January 2026.
(All other technologies are in Allocation Round 7a, with a separate schedule).
DESNZ will publish the successful projects for fixed bottom and floating offshore wind technologies on 14th January 2026.
(All other technologies are in Allocation Round 7a, with a separate schedule).
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France's ARENH price mechanism for nuclear power ends today. The ARENH scheme allowed rival suppliers to buy EDF's nuclear power at its cost price. The price is currently set at €42/MWh.
It will be replaced on the 1st of January 2026 by the Universal Nuclear Payment (VNU) scheme.
France's ARENH price mechanism for nuclear power ends today. The ARENH scheme allowed rival suppliers to buy EDF's nuclear power at its cost price. The price is currently set at €42/MWh.
It will be replaced on the 1st of January 2026 by the Universal Nuclear Payment (VNU) scheme.
France Scraps Arenh And Promises Stable Electricity Prices Through 2027 - Energynews.pro
France will end the Arenh mechanism in January 2026 and introduce a new pricing system aimed at keeping electricity prices stable for consumers through 2027.
energynews.pro
December 31, 2025 at 12:04 PM
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France's ARENH price mechanism for nuclear power ends today. The ARENH scheme allowed rival suppliers to buy EDF's nuclear power at its cost price. The price is currently set at €42/MWh.
It will be replaced on the 1st of January 2026 by the Universal Nuclear Payment (VNU) scheme.
France's ARENH price mechanism for nuclear power ends today. The ARENH scheme allowed rival suppliers to buy EDF's nuclear power at its cost price. The price is currently set at €42/MWh.
It will be replaced on the 1st of January 2026 by the Universal Nuclear Payment (VNU) scheme.
Reposted by Lightbucket
The government needs to shift to subsidising cooling heat pumps instead of only ones that heat. With warmer and more uncomfortable summers it’s a real benefit. Middle class much more likely to contribute more if their homes are cooled in the summer as well as heated in the winter.
December 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The government needs to shift to subsidising cooling heat pumps instead of only ones that heat. With warmer and more uncomfortable summers it’s a real benefit. Middle class much more likely to contribute more if their homes are cooled in the summer as well as heated in the winter.
Reposted by Lightbucket
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
December 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
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Germany's monthly share of electricity generation from gas hit a ten-year high in November 2025,
at 30.1% of electricity generated.
The gas share stayed below 20% for most of the last ten years, before climbing in 2025.
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
Germany's monthly share of electricity generation from gas hit a ten-year high in November 2025,
at 30.1% of electricity generated.
The gas share stayed below 20% for most of the last ten years, before climbing in 2025.
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
December 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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Germany's monthly share of electricity generation from gas hit a ten-year high in November 2025,
at 30.1% of electricity generated.
The gas share stayed below 20% for most of the last ten years, before climbing in 2025.
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
Germany's monthly share of electricity generation from gas hit a ten-year high in November 2025,
at 30.1% of electricity generated.
The gas share stayed below 20% for most of the last ten years, before climbing in 2025.
⸻
Ref: Ember ember-energy.org/data/electri...
1/2
Italy has awarded more than 1.1 GW of capacity in its first auction exclusively for solar installations built without Chinese-manufactured equipment.
It is Italy's first solar auction implementing the resilience criteria stipulated by the EU Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
Italy has awarded more than 1.1 GW of capacity in its first auction exclusively for solar installations built without Chinese-manufactured equipment.
It is Italy's first solar auction implementing the resilience criteria stipulated by the EU Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
Italy awards 1.1 GW in its first non-Chinese equipment solar auction
Italy has awarded more than 1.1 GW of capacity to 88 projects in its first auction exclusively for solar installations built without Chinese-manufactured equipment, setting an average price of €66/MWh...
www.enerdata.net
December 21, 2025 at 11:49 AM
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Italy has awarded more than 1.1 GW of capacity in its first auction exclusively for solar installations built without Chinese-manufactured equipment.
It is Italy's first solar auction implementing the resilience criteria stipulated by the EU Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
Italy has awarded more than 1.1 GW of capacity in its first auction exclusively for solar installations built without Chinese-manufactured equipment.
It is Italy's first solar auction implementing the resilience criteria stipulated by the EU Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
Reposted by Lightbucket
My blog on Wordpress: lightbucket.wordpress.com
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October 22, 2025 at 10:26 AM
My blog on Wordpress: lightbucket.wordpress.com
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#pricescrapbook, French nuclear.
Preliminary cost estimate for the
6× EPR2 reactors in France (2 each at Penly, Gravelines & Bugey):
• €72.8 billion (2020 prices);
• = US$85.3 billion;
• = €7265/kW;
• 40-year CfD at €100/MWh (2024 prices) energynews.pro/en/edf-and-t...;
• First due in 2038.
Preliminary cost estimate for the
6× EPR2 reactors in France (2 each at Penly, Gravelines & Bugey):
• €72.8 billion (2020 prices);
• = US$85.3 billion;
• = €7265/kW;
• 40-year CfD at €100/MWh (2024 prices) energynews.pro/en/edf-and-t...;
• First due in 2038.
EDF estimates EPR2 programme cost at EUR72.8 billion
France's EDF has said its preliminary cost estimate for the project to build six EPR2 reactors at Penly, Gravelines and Bugey totals EUR72.8 billion (USD85.3 billion).
;
www.world-nuclear-news.org
December 20, 2025 at 12:13 PM
#pricescrapbook, French nuclear.
Preliminary cost estimate for the
6× EPR2 reactors in France (2 each at Penly, Gravelines & Bugey):
• €72.8 billion (2020 prices);
• = US$85.3 billion;
• = €7265/kW;
• 40-year CfD at €100/MWh (2024 prices) energynews.pro/en/edf-and-t...;
• First due in 2038.
Preliminary cost estimate for the
6× EPR2 reactors in France (2 each at Penly, Gravelines & Bugey):
• €72.8 billion (2020 prices);
• = US$85.3 billion;
• = €7265/kW;
• 40-year CfD at €100/MWh (2024 prices) energynews.pro/en/edf-and-t...;
• First due in 2038.
Reposted by Lightbucket
What to make of the EU decision on funding for Ukraine? It is a good outcome in my opinion. Here is why:
December 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
What to make of the EU decision on funding for Ukraine? It is a good outcome in my opinion. Here is why:
Reposted by Lightbucket
In response to the reappearance of MMT, I have, somewhat reluctantly, written up where the current crop of 'pop MMT' goes wrong.
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
What’s wrong with MMT?
As Marc Lavoie and John Quiggin have noted, there are ‘two MMTs’. Scholars such as Randy Wray, Eric Tymoigne and Scott Fulwiler have contributed to debates on monetary economics, instit…
criticalfinance.org
December 19, 2025 at 10:34 AM
In response to the reappearance of MMT, I have, somewhat reluctantly, written up where the current crop of 'pop MMT' goes wrong.
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
The short version: yes the central bank issues money; no this doesn't change anything.
criticalfinance.org/2025/12/19/w...
December 19th 2025:
Russia cuts its key interest rate from 16.5% to 16.0%.
It had been at 21% for over 7 months from 25th October 2024 to 6th June 2025.
Next key rate meeting: 13th Feb. 2026.
#Russianeconomy
10 years of interest rates, for context 👇:
⸻
Ref: tradingeconomics.com/russia/inter...
Russia cuts its key interest rate from 16.5% to 16.0%.
It had been at 21% for over 7 months from 25th October 2024 to 6th June 2025.
Next key rate meeting: 13th Feb. 2026.
#Russianeconomy
10 years of interest rates, for context 👇:
⸻
Ref: tradingeconomics.com/russia/inter...
December 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
December 19th 2025:
Russia cuts its key interest rate from 16.5% to 16.0%.
It had been at 21% for over 7 months from 25th October 2024 to 6th June 2025.
Next key rate meeting: 13th Feb. 2026.
#Russianeconomy
10 years of interest rates, for context 👇:
⸻
Ref: tradingeconomics.com/russia/inter...
Russia cuts its key interest rate from 16.5% to 16.0%.
It had been at 21% for over 7 months from 25th October 2024 to 6th June 2025.
Next key rate meeting: 13th Feb. 2026.
#Russianeconomy
10 years of interest rates, for context 👇:
⸻
Ref: tradingeconomics.com/russia/inter...
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The Low Carbon Contracts Company has issued its Determination for Q2 2026 (i.e. Apr–Jun).
The technology-averaged CfD strike prices are forecast to be:
Offshore wind: £158.80/MWh
Onshore wind: £114.80/MWh
Solar PV: £68.00/MWh
The Market Reference Prices (set by gas, mostly) are ~£69/MWh.
The Low Carbon Contracts Company has issued its Determination for Q2 2026 (i.e. Apr–Jun).
The technology-averaged CfD strike prices are forecast to be:
Offshore wind: £158.80/MWh
Onshore wind: £114.80/MWh
Solar PV: £68.00/MWh
The Market Reference Prices (set by gas, mostly) are ~£69/MWh.
December 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
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The Low Carbon Contracts Company has issued its Determination for Q2 2026 (i.e. Apr–Jun).
The technology-averaged CfD strike prices are forecast to be:
Offshore wind: £158.80/MWh
Onshore wind: £114.80/MWh
Solar PV: £68.00/MWh
The Market Reference Prices (set by gas, mostly) are ~£69/MWh.
The Low Carbon Contracts Company has issued its Determination for Q2 2026 (i.e. Apr–Jun).
The technology-averaged CfD strike prices are forecast to be:
Offshore wind: £158.80/MWh
Onshore wind: £114.80/MWh
Solar PV: £68.00/MWh
The Market Reference Prices (set by gas, mostly) are ~£69/MWh.
Grangemouth is the last UK plant making ethylene,
which feeds into the UK Ethylene Pipeline System,
and is then used to make a wide range of plastics
(polyester; PVC; polyethylene…)
The £120m bailout keeps the Grangemouth plant going.
👇
which feeds into the UK Ethylene Pipeline System,
and is then used to make a wide range of plastics
(polyester; PVC; polyethylene…)
The £120m bailout keeps the Grangemouth plant going.
👇
✍️Why on earth is the Government forking out £120m of taxpayer money to save a Scottish chemicals plant?
The answer comes back to one of the most important, and least well-known, pipelines in the country.
The backstory of today's Grangemouth bail-out👇 news.sky.com/story/christ...
The answer comes back to one of the most important, and least well-known, pipelines in the country.
The backstory of today's Grangemouth bail-out👇 news.sky.com/story/christ...
Christmas cheer for Britain's biggest chemical plant, but there are two distinct problems
The government has just announced it's spending more than £120m to bail out the country's last chemical plant at Grangemouth in Scotland. While this package will undoubtedly provide some Christmas che...
news.sky.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Grangemouth is the last UK plant making ethylene,
which feeds into the UK Ethylene Pipeline System,
and is then used to make a wide range of plastics
(polyester; PVC; polyethylene…)
The £120m bailout keeps the Grangemouth plant going.
👇
which feeds into the UK Ethylene Pipeline System,
and is then used to make a wide range of plastics
(polyester; PVC; polyethylene…)
The £120m bailout keeps the Grangemouth plant going.
👇
Reposted by Lightbucket
This is potentially one of the most transformational policies this government has done if it holds its nerve.
NEW: Labour just announced the biggest change in planning policy in 80 years.
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
Labour are finally taking the housing shortage seriously
Is the new National Planning Policy Framework Labour’s biggest pro-growth move?
www.samdumitriu.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This is potentially one of the most transformational policies this government has done if it holds its nerve.
Poland launches its first competitive offshore wind CfD auction:
• Up to 4 GW of capacity in the Baltic Sea;
• CfD max. strike price of €115–€122/MWh;
At least 3 projects likely to participate:
• Equinor & Polenergeia’s Baltyk 1;
• PGE Baltica & Orsted’s Baltica 1;
• Orlen’s Baltic East.
• Up to 4 GW of capacity in the Baltic Sea;
• CfD max. strike price of €115–€122/MWh;
At least 3 projects likely to participate:
• Equinor & Polenergeia’s Baltyk 1;
• PGE Baltica & Orsted’s Baltica 1;
• Orlen’s Baltic East.
renews.biz
December 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Poland launches its first competitive offshore wind CfD auction:
• Up to 4 GW of capacity in the Baltic Sea;
• CfD max. strike price of €115–€122/MWh;
At least 3 projects likely to participate:
• Equinor & Polenergeia’s Baltyk 1;
• PGE Baltica & Orsted’s Baltica 1;
• Orlen’s Baltic East.
• Up to 4 GW of capacity in the Baltic Sea;
• CfD max. strike price of €115–€122/MWh;
At least 3 projects likely to participate:
• Equinor & Polenergeia’s Baltyk 1;
• PGE Baltica & Orsted’s Baltica 1;
• Orlen’s Baltic East.