Wind energy in Hungary
According
to the Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on
the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources the target for the
share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in
the year 2020 for Hungary is 13% (in the year 2005 the share was 4.3%).
Renewable
electricity: wind
For system security reasons a 330 MWe capacity limit was set for wind energy until 2010. According
the new legislation new wind capacities (over 330 MW) can only be established in a tender procedure.
In 2009 appeared the first Call for Proposals for 410 MWe wind capacity . The
Hungarian Energy Office has cancelled a tender for the construction of 410MW in
wind farms, casting doubts over the country's growth plans for wind energy. The
tender, which had already drawn preliminary bids to construct 1.1GW in wind
farms, had represented the first opening for new projects since the government
capped capacity at 330MW in a 2006 tender. The Hungarian Energy Office reserved
the right to re-open the tender process under new conditions.
EWEA and HuWEA would
like to see at least 1,250 MW installed in the country by 2020, which would
provide about 5% of its electricity demand. The Hungarian
Energy Office reserved the right to re-open the tender process under new conditions, but when and
how is not clear.
The feed-in tariff is a guaranteed
payment and varies according to the time of day. The amount of payment is based
on the average pay-off period of individual technologies, the efficiency of the
energy source used, the use of natural resources, the higher degree of
efficiency brought about by technological developments and the effects of a
technology on the electricity grid. The amount calculated is laid down in a
special regulation (§ 10 (1) c) Act Nr. LXXXVI of 2007). The amount of payment
is set annually and is adjusted to the rate of inflation. The period of payment is set by the
Energy Office in line with the statutory provisions and shall not exceed the
pay¬-off period of the system. The amount of payment varies according to three
periods (wind energy are subject to a single standard tariff). These periods
depend on the area concerned and differ for weekdays and weekends/holidays.
In the end, the consumers bear the cost of the
feed-in tariff. The grid operator pays the feed-in tariff to the plant
operator, but also receives payments from the electricity suppliers.
Electricity traders are obliged to purchase the electricity in question and
enter into a contract with the grid operator.
Feed-in
tariffs in
Future programme changes
expected
According to NREAP building of 750 MW of wind energy
capacity in 2020 should be realistically achieved. However, if the flexibility
of grid is improved (development of smart grids, new storage units etc.) this
target could be exceeded. So far the capacity of 295 MWe
was installed in 2010. It is estimated that total contribution from wind energy
in
Sources
National
Renewable Energy Action Plan for
http://www.igwindkraft.at/redsystem/mmedia/2010.12.01/1291219101.pdf
http://www.windpowerintelligence.com/article/vd8NhBEC5Bw/2010/09/10/hungary_hungary_cancels_410mw_wind_energy_tender/
Institute
for Renewable
This information can be
referenced without permission provided that the source is mentioned completely
and correctly: 'Interactive EurObserv'ER Database,
http://www.eurobserv-er.org (February 2011)'
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