German electricity for delivery next year rose for a second day as higher coal prices signaled more expensive power generation costs in Europe’s biggest market. Baseload power for 2012 gained 15 cents, or 0.3% to EUR 53.40 a MW hour, according to broker data compiled by Bloomberg as of 5:53 PM Berlin time.

Baseload is delivered around the clock. Hard coal for next year delivery to Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Antwerp gained 0.2% to USD 121.75 a tonne. Germany also produces electricity from lignite, or brown coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind and solar plants.

RWE AG, Germany’s second-biggest utility, halted its 1,227 MW Biblis B nuclear reactor on Feb. 25 for maintenance and will restart it from May 20 to May 22, according to data on a company website.

In France, Europe’s second-biggest power market, Electricite de France SA halted the 1,330 MW Flamanville 2 reactor at 10:45 AM local time on February 28th according to grid data.

(Sourced from Bloomberg)