Hungary
Country Profile
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Latest Developments
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Projects
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Policy/Regulatory
A new member to the EU, Hungary has committed to generating 3.6 percent of its electricity needs from renewable energy by 2012. Recently, legislation was passed stipulating that beginning in January 2003, energy generated from renewable energy resources must be purchased between 7 and 8 US cents/kWh. This guaranteed incentive dramatically improves the economics of potential renewable energy projects in Hungary.
Biomass accounts for the largest share of Hungary’s renewable energy consumption and appears to be the most promising technology for renewable energy development (about 1,000 MWe technical potential). In spite of a renewable energy target and favorable legal and economical framework, the lack of state-of-the-art wind measurements currently inhibits wind energy development. Austrian projects across the border imply some potential for development. Solar insolation levels in Hungary are relatively low and given the high cost of solar photovoltaics, solar project development does not seem justified even with a relatively high feed-in tariff. Hungary’s geothermal reserves are primarily low to medium enthalpy, which are not suitable for electricity generation. There is some evidence of the existence of high-enthalpy resources capable of electricity generation, but none have been explored to date. There is low technical potential for hydroelectric generation.
Country Profile and Notes
More information is provided in the country profile and country notes, including specific resource and energy sector information:
View 2009 Country Profile
View 2005 Country Profile (194 kB pdf)
View 2002 Country Notes (361 kB pdf)
Latest Developments