Hungary has climbed to the top of Europe’s solar energy ranking, surpassing Greece, as solar systems accounted for a remarkable 25 per cent of domestic electricity generation in 2024, according to a report shared by the Ministry of Energy (EM) on Thursday.
The recent findings, published by the independent international think tank Ember, place Hungary ahead of Greece’s 22 per cent and Spain’s 21 per cent in solar energy’s share of electricity generation. This represents a dramatic leap for Hungary, which recorded just 4 per cent solar energy contribution in 2019, making it the fastest-growing country in this category over the past five years.
Hungary, alongside the Netherlands, has also achieved another milestone: during peak production periods, domestic solar power plants could meet over 80 per cent of the country’s electricity needs in more than 70 days in 2024. This is a significant improvement compared to 2023 when only 10 such days were recorded.
With the support of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant and favourable weather conditions, Hungary increasingly relies exclusively on carbon-neutral sources to meet its domestic electricity demand. In addition, surplus electricity is regularly exported.
By early 2025, Hungary’s solar energy capacity has surpassed 7,550 megawatts, a figure 25 per cent higher than previously projected for 2030. Notably, 80 per cent of the current capacity has been installed since 2020, with annual increases of at least 1,200 megawatts recorded for three consecutive years since 2022.
The updated target in Hungary’s National Energy and Climate Plan is set at 12,000 megawatts of solar energy capacity by the early 2030s.
The government has also supported families in adopting green energy through the Solar Energy Plus Programme, which has boosted the number of household solar power systems to nearly 300,000. This represents a thousandfold increase compared to 2010.
Hungary’s progress in renewable energy goes beyond solar power. The country is building a strong position in the green industry, with significant advancements in battery and heat pump production, positioning itself as a competitive player with exceptional growth potential.
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