Transformation of the renewable energy structure in Hungary

Abstract

According to the Eurostat database, the percentage of renewable energy sources in
the energy mix of the EU is increasing year after year (www.europa.eu/eurostat). In 2018, the
values reached 73% in neighboring Austria (48% in Croatia, 42% in Romania, 32% in Slovenia and
21% in Slovakia), Hungary now stands at 8%. Wind energy is the leader in the renewable energy
structure of the EU countries (35, 8% in 2018), since the construction of wind farms is prohibited
in our country, one of the main objectives of research is to examine our energy structure. Our last
position in renewable energy in 2020 prompted the government to develop a new climate strategy
(mekh.hu/nemzetienergiastrategia2030). According to the new strategy, Hungary is estimated to be
climate and carbon neutral by the end of the decade. Among the alternative sources of energy,
solar energy is becoming the favorite, and our article points out why other forms of energy are being
overshadowed. Analyzing the changes in the country’s future energy mix, it can be said that it will
be based essentially on nuclear power and electricity from Russia’s electricity grid. However, due to
the drastic drop in the cost of solar panels in the energy mix of households, solar energy has become
a favorite of renewable energy sources. In the climate strategy, the government plans to create 8,000
MW of solar energy by 2050, which will be mainly used in households, municipal buildings, and
tourism.