PRAGUE, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Falling wind production offset

typical lower demand heading towards the weekend to push up

central European day ahead prices on Thursday, traders said.

Prices converged on regional exchanges with Czech, Slovak

and Hungarian electricity for Friday delivery gaining about 3

percent to 48.18 euros ($64.74) per megawatt hour.

The three central European countries agreed last September

to link their day ahead markets but prices often diverge, with

Hungary trading higher.

In over-the-counter trade, Czech day-ahead prices rose to 47

euros, representing about a 2.25 euro discount to neighbouring

Germany. Hungarian and Slovak over-the-counter prices were in

line with their Czech equivalent.

Forecasts for wind generation in Germany eased to 1.6 GW

from 4.4 GW, with solar production expected at slightly below 1

GW.

'Both wind and solar production is forecast to decrease,'

Point Carbon analysts wrote.

Further along the curve, the front month increased 5 cents

to 38 euros while Cal '14 baseload fell 10 cents to 42.25 euros

in afternoon trade on the Prague-based Power Exchange Central

Europe.

Around the region, the benchmark German Cal '14 fell 2 cents

to 42.80 euros in afternoon trade on Germany's EEX exchange.

Bosnian grid operator Nezavisni Operator Sistema (NOS)

published the results of its March cross-border power capacity

auction.

A Polish court overturned a construction permit for a huge

coal-fired power plant near the Baltic Sea after a legal

challenge from environmental groups, but the firm behind the

project said it would go ahead.

Poland's utilities will have 3.2 GW of power offline for

planned maintenance on Saturday, data from grid operator PSE

showed. Day ahead on Poland's POLPX rose to

168.17 zlotys ($54.41)from 165.95 zlotys.

Oil prices fell after euro zone figures showed the world's

No. 1 trading bloc sank deeper into recession at the end of last

year, curbing expectations of accelerating global growth and

higher energy demand.

The benchmark EU carbon contract, EU Allowances for December

delivery, gained about 3 percent to 5.40 euros a tonne

in afternoon trade.

($1 = 0.7442 euros)

($1 = 3.0907 Polish zlotys)

(Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Pravin Char)

Keywords: MARKETS CEE/ELECTRICITY

(michael.kahn@thomsonreuters.com)(+420 224 190 443)(Reuters Messaging: michael.kahn.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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