Several, predominantly technical, amendments have been introduced in the call for proposals supporting the installation of modern solar panel systems. Uniformly, the entire duration of system, product, and contractor guarantees will now be ten years, aligning with the expected return on investment, as communicated by the Ministry of Energy (EM) on Thursday.
Among the new elements is the stipulation that the standardization and phase expansion of the metering point can be accounted for up to a maximum value of 600,000 HUF. Contractors will have an easier time as their subcontractors are no longer required to register separately. In the programme opening in mid-January, up to 5 million HUF in support can be granted for the installation of solar panels and storage on a property.
With this initiative, the government encourages families to reduce their electricity bills by producing and storing green energy.
The recently launched Solar Energy Plus Programme, announced just a month ago, allows private individuals with privately owned residential properties, beneficial use rights, or leasing agreements to use non-refundable support for renewable energy sources. Thanks to the funding covering two-thirds of their costs, supported households can produce green energy for their own use, and also store it for later use. The supported households become more capable of self-sustainability in terms of energy, effectively reducing their utility bills.
Contractors have been able to apply to the Solar Energy Plus Programme since 4 December 2023, and in just one month, registration of more than 400 companies has been approved.
The increased interest is evident as the supporting agency, NFFKÜ—the International Fund Development and Coordination Agency Co., received over 1,900 phone and written customer service inquiries in recent weeks.
One of the most important changes affecting industry enterprises is that only general contractors need to register in the programme; registration of their subcontractors is not necessary. In order to protect applicants and contractors, the modified documents detail the termination conditions of the construction contract and, in the event of unauthorized use, the possible methods of reclaiming the support.
The complete documentation is available in an up-to-date form on the supporting agency’s website. Starting from 15 January 2024, families can choose a contractor from the companies registered in the Solar Energy Plus Programme. The use of the mandatory contract template also simplifies the administration for the applicants. Those with already signed construction contracts can submit support requests.
The future of the Hungarian economy lies in green energy.
The use of modern, clean technologies strengthens Hungary’s competitiveness and energy sovereignty, contributing to the restoration of economic growth. The government is working to ensure that the country leads in the production and storage of green energy in both homes and industrial facilities, the press release stated. In addition to the 75 billion HUF Solar Energy Plus Programme, a separate call for businesses will open in mid-January. The 62 billion HUF corporate grant, with non-refundable investment support and revenue compensation, will help companies build 20 times the current 20-megawatt industrial energy storage capacity by the summer of 2026.
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Source: Hungarian Conservative/EM/MTI
