Stocks were now at 35%-36%, under the "critical level" of 40%, which the German government deems is necessary to withstand seven straight days of an extreme cold snap.

The Joint European Torus (JET) is the largest and most powerful operational tokamak machine, where temperatures can reach levels 10 times hotter than the centre of the sun.

European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell said Russia was using Europe's reliance on its energy exports for "geopolitical gain in the middle of a surge of energy prices worldwide."

She did acknowledge, however, that Gazprom was fulfilling its contracts, "but only at the bottom end of its commitments."

The UK HPR1000 is the Hualong One design that General Nuclear Services (GNS) - a subsidiary of EDF and China General Nuclear (CGN) - proposes to use at a prospective new nuclear power plant in Bradwell, England.

Utsira Nord has an offshore wind potential of 1.5 GW (the other area, Sørlige Nordsjø II, has a potential of 3 GW).

"Aside from a few additional Bcms which could be squeezed out of (mainly LNG) exporters -- probably only on an emergency basis -- there is no substantial, immediately available gas which could compensate for any significant interruption of Russian gas supplies,"

The Commission said that, after taking account of scientific advice and current technological progress, it considers there is a role for private investment in gas and nuclear activities in the transition.

In January 2021, Azerbaijan started commercial gas supplies to Europe via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which entered operations in November 2020.

Nord Stream 1 appeared to be returning to full capacity, according to the operator's data, with hourly gas flow nominations reaching 73 GWh since the start of Feb. 1 gas day, compared with 69 GWh/h for Jan. 31.

Gas exports to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline keep growing within the framework of the long-term bilateral contract between Gazprom and CNPC.

In a recent twist, Berlin is no longer ruling out shelving the pipeline project. But Europe is currently facing a winter energy crunch. Prices of natural gas have skyrocketed in recent months, and stockpiles in EU countries are at a five-year low.

Ukraine, which earns more than Poland from gas transit fees, may have to look at ways to diversify its own supplies and rethink its function in the European gas system. Until it does, it will continue to depend on Russia.

Wind generation rose as high as 14,822 megawatts, surpassing the previous record of 14,286 megawatts set in May 2021, according to data from National Grid.

The auction for large renewable projects (>1 MW), with 3,897 MW of capacity available, attracted 108 bids totalling 1,352 MW and only 84 bids totalling 1,093 MW were admitted (28% of the available capacity).