Hungary had a record year for new solar in 2023, taking its total capacity to more than 5.6 GW. However, analysts warn that government policies are restricting foreign investment, while grid capacity shortfalls could stunt the country''s rapid rise.
Hungary deployed 1.6 GW of solar in 2023, according to new figures released by the Hungarian government. Last year''s increase is a calendar-year record for Hungary and more than one and half times the capacity additions recorded in 2022.
It takes the country''s total solar capacity to more than 5.6 GW. Preliminary figures from transmission system manager MAVIR states Hungary''s total solar capacity equate to 3.3 GW of industrial solar power plants and 2.3 GW of household-sized installations.
Hungary posted growth in terms of large-scale and residential solar capacity last year. The country''s largest solar power plant to date was connected to the grid, while the number of small, household-sized power plants surpassed a quarter of a million. According to census data, more than one-quarter of residential properties of at least 100 square meters built after 2010 now have solar panels.
In 2024, the Hungarian government says it will continue to support the growth of residential PV through the soon-to-be-launched Napenergia Plusz Program, a grant scheme for the installation of modern solar panel and storage systems with a total budget of HUF 75.8 billion ($218 million). The scheme, which is expected to support over 15,000 households, opens for applications later this month.
Kinga Máté, a Hungarian legal analyst, told pv magazine that the additional 1.6 GW is a "significant and commendable achievement,” but warned "the tightening of foreign direct investment (FDI) rules, particularly the introduction of a pre-emption right for the Hungarian State in solar power plant investments, presents a notable challenge.”
"Another novelty introduced by the amendment of the FDI Decree is the more precise description of the solar investments concerned, namely strategic companies that are to be acquired by a foreign investor and have electricity generation registered as their main or other activity in the company register," Máté said. "These restrictive measures may dampen the enthusiasm of foreign investors, potentially limiting the scope of international transactions in Hungary''s renewable energy sector. It is a factor that should be considered in every business strategy.”
There are also concerns that grid congestion could hamper the rollout of large-scale solar in Hungary. In June, the president of the Hungarian Photovoltaic Industry Association, Ádám Szolnoki, told pv magazine that 3 GW of projects that submitted applications in 2022 were told in May that that would not be able to connect before 2028. But he said there is ab0ut 5 GW of allocated utility-scale PV capacity set for construction in Hungary over the next four to five years.
Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so.
You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled.
Almost 17 million more European homes were powered by solar in 2023, due to a 40 per cent growth in solar installations from 2022, according to the latest report published by Brussels-based association SolarPower Europe. Compared to the 40 gigawatts (GW) of solar installed in 2022, 2023 brought 55.9 GW of new solar capacity across the EU27, only a few GW away from meeting the IEA recommendations to install around 60 GW of solar power to compensate for the phase-out of Russian gas.
"Solar has continued to deliver for Europe in crisis with record-breaking installations,” said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe. “Now as solar hits its own turning point, Europe must deliver for solar. We are not yet installing the average 70 GW annually needed to meet our 2030 solar targets. It''s clear policymakers can''t afford to be complacent for the rest of the decade."
In 9th place, Greece confirmed its presence amongst the key EU solar PV markets. After it crossed the GW threshold in 2022 for the first time with 1.4 GW installed, the Greek solar market grew by 20 per cent to more than 1.6 GW in 2023. This increase was primarily propelled by small ground-mounted PV projects up to 500 kilowatts (kW). Simultaneously, both the utility-scale and residential segments saw growth – the former supported by an auction scheme and simplified authorisation procedures.
Securing the final spot in the top 10, Hungary has witnessed the most successful year in history for its solar sector, the report found. Annual additions reached 1.6 GW by the end of 2023, a 45 per cent growth from the 1.1 GW recorded in 2022. The residential sector experienced a strong increase in demand as of the end of 2022, following announcements to prohibit prosumers feeding solar PV electricity into the grid from the beginning of 2023 due to reported distribution grid constraints.
“More than a quarter of all installed domestic solar energy capacity was built in 2022, the 1.1 GW completed last year represents an extraordinary increase. The development of the electricity network could not keep up with this pace, which is why we had to put the brakes on temporarily in the autumn,” explained Hungary’s energy minister Csaba Lantos in an interview with CEENERGYNEWS earlier this year.
About Solar industry hungary
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Solar industry hungary have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Solar industry hungary for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Solar industry hungary featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
