WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.1.4 Hungary
European Small Hydropower Association, Stream Map
Key facts
Population 9,958,453 1
Area 93,028 km 2
Climate
Topography
Rain
pattern
Temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters;
warm summers
Mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low
mountains on the border with Slovakia
The total mean annual precipitation is
approximately 600 mm. 2
Electricity sector overview
Hungary had a total installed capacity of 10,108.8 MW
and a domestic gross electricity production of 35,984
GWh in 2011. Nuclear energy and natural gas dominate
electricity generation (figure 1). Electricity exchange
occurs with its neighbours particularly Slovakia, Ukraine
and Austria but also Romania, Serbia and Croatia. In
2011, Hungary imported a total of 6,650 GWh
Hungary’s hydro resource potential is located on the
Danube basin (66 per cent), the Tisza (10 per cent) and
other rivers (24 per cent). It is estimated that only 5-6
per cent of the potential hydro energy can be
developed. New hydropower projects consist primarily
of small plants, with the possibility of re-using water
from existing hydropower plants. Hungary’s rivers
exhibit a theoretical power of 990 MW, of which 7,446
GWh/year could be generated. On the small streams the
theoretical production is 308 GWh/year. In the
Renewable Energy Action Plan, Hungary supports
smaller size plants (below 10 MW) mainly in the 100-
500 kW range.
Renewable energy policy
The approved 2009/28/EC Directive on Renewable
Energy sets binding targets on the share of renewable
energy in gross final energy consumption. Hungary’s
renewable energy target is set at 13 per cent by 2020
(according to the EU), but the Hungarian Government is
aiming for 14.65 per cent. There is no green certificate
system in Hungary, the Government plans to introduce
it in the long-term.
electricity. 3 0.34%
0.52%
1.15%
1.47%
3.57%
15.28%
15.60%
25.28%
36.79%
Liquid Fuel
Hydro
Waste / Other RE
Wind
Biomass
Coal
Imported
Natural Gas
Nuclear
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Hungary
Source: Hungarian Energy Office 3
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
Hungary is one of the less mountainous countries in
Eastern Europe. Therefore it has limited hydropower
potential and since the 1970s there have been only a
few small hydropower developments. In 2010, Hungary
had 36 small hydropower plants and a total installed
capacity of 14 MW (generating 67 GWh per year). By
2020, the aim is to have 42 plants with a total installed
capacity of 28 MW (generating 80 GWh). 4
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
14 MW
28 MW
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Hungary
Source: Stream Map 4
Note: Potential is based on planned capacity by 2020.
Legislation on small hydropower
Hungary has introduced a sustainable (non-centralbudget-based)
feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme guaranteed
until 2020. The system was modified in favour of smaller
hydropower plants and those providing remote heating
in 2008. Tariffsare to be adjusted yearly in line with the
inflation rate. There is a peak and off-peak FIT with the
average tariff at around 9 euro cents/kWh x k (k =
inflation rate). 4
Barriers to small hydropower development
Hydropower has long been a much debated topic in
Hungary. Plans to construct such facilities on a larger
scale have been opposed by the incumbent coalition in
the past. The Government still does not consider highcapacity
hydropower a real option compared to other
sources of energy. It claims that the topographic
conditions of Hungary do not allow for favourable and
economic utilization of hydropower. 4
A large part of the country is on flat land, although there
are some low hills. Rivers with high water output do not
have marked drops in elevation either. In the
Government’s view, instead of constructing large dams,
it is more feasible to establish small-scale hydropower
generators (of which there are dozens). Mini
hydropower plants with an output of less than 10 MW
and turbines installed in river beds could provide
energy-efficient solutions for smaller towns and rural
areas. According to the Government, the establishment
of only such smaller plants is in the national interest.
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