One very progressive element of the 2019 Hungarian NECP is the increase in the use of renewable energies. In the case of Hungary, this is typically wind turbines and solar power plants. The now planned elimination of the previously introduced restrictions affecting them is very promising as could greatly contribute to the energy sector’s transition into sustainability.

The Hungarian Government is reviewing how restriction suspending opportunities of household solar panels being fed into the grid, can be gradually lifted. Energy Minister Mr Csaba Lantos spoke about this: “We are working to review where and in what schedule we can fine-tune and gradually lift the temporary restriction.” The minister also confirmed: “we also want windmills to be built”, but “not everywhere in the country, and not complete forests of them”, but they are also preferred, because “sun and wind can complement each other well”.

In his recent interview, the minister stated that 170,000 household-sized small power plants are already producing electricity, and 100,000 more requests were submitted before the restriction introduced at the end of October last year. That is the number of additional small power plants can be connected to the grid in the near future.

Mr Csaba Lantos reminded that a modern electric grid is needed for all of this. Relevant development is already in the pipeline, investments totalling HUF 160 billion have been launched.

In the case of wind turbines, it is advisable to reduce protective distance from settlements to 500 meters, to increase maximum output to 4.5 MW, and to raise maximum column height to 160 meters.