The math doesn’t work here.
How can the utilities be making windfall profits? Who is paying them for the carbon credits in “windfall” amounts? Who is paying 20 Euros per tonne of CO2?
I’m sure a few gullible greenies are buying up credits (to offset their personal emissions) but this would only add up to 50 Euros to 100 Euros per person. The numbers don’t add up.
The short answer is Banks and investement companies. Utilities get credits for new technology or for adding pollution controls that have nothing to do with limiting carbon emissions. They also get credits for closing down old plants. If they build a new plant, they are exempt or get credit for shutting down the plants. Thus...making a boatload of money and not limiting their carbon footprint at all.
Many companies here in the US want to do this because they have already closed plant or they are in the process of doing so.
The number of carbon credits a company has is related to their baseline numbers. Whoever is in charge of setting those baseline numbers I can guarantee you that they will make millions!