European country to give free electricity instead of switching off wind turbines

The only kind of battery capable of reliably doing what you describe is a sand battery, and there are currently only 2 in the world, and they are in Finland.

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=21871

https://www.uniladtech.com/news/tech-news/world-largest-sand...

The issue with gas is Europe's own choice, which also makes this not true:

> "However, an analysis from the University of Oxford has found that maximising oil and gas extraction here would only save UK households up to £82 (€95) per year."

UK and Europe could produce a lot of gas and could then decide at what price to sell it locally, it would not have to be at international markets' prices.

It is policy not to do either in order to decarbonise. Certainly it is understandable not to encourage people to use gas, but on the other hand countries are reliant on gas and have then to import it...