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Preliminary data from Hungarian transmission system operator Mavir showed a record high in power generation by industrial solar power plants last Friday, with the absolute record set on Saturday at 2541 megawatts at noon, only slightly below the total of 2540 megawatts set on Sunday, the Energy Ministry announced in a statement.
According to the Ministry, the steady increase in installed capacity has led to a new solar peak every month since February this year.
Industrial solar plants reached the new record with about 88 percent of their current total installed capacity of 2,869 megawatts. Renewables accounted for 71.5 percent of the quarterly average electricity consumption, and solar for more than two-thirds. Due to the characteristics of this energy source, similarly high output is only available intermittently, during midday.
The generation peaks, which are now becoming a regular occurrence, underline the justification and timeliness of the work undertaken to increase the flexibility of the domestic electricity system, the Ministry stressed.
According to Hungarian economic website Portfolio, the Hungarian solar sector has achieved this remarkable performance thanks to favorable weather conditions and the steady expansion of solar capacity. As a result of increasing solar power generation, Hungary is increasingly and frequently becoming a major net exporter of electricity.
The Hungarian government has long-term plans to increase the country’s energy supply from solar energy, while reducing energy imports and increasing reliance on domestic renewable energy sources. The development of the sector is essential not only to combat climate change and to reinforce the importance of sustainable energy sources, but also to serve the country’s economic interests.
Thanks to state subsidies, the use of solar energy in Hungary has been growing rapidly in recent years, even by international standards. The installed solar capacity in Hungary increased by 1100 megawatts last year, and including solar panels below 50 kW, it has now exceeded 4500 megawatts. Around two thirds of this capacity comes from industrial power plants.
Since the end of last year, the total capacity of small household-scale power plants has increased by more than 170 megawatts. The target of 6,000 megawatts by 2030 could be reached much earlier, based on progress made, and could be exceeded twice by the beginning of the next decade, the Energy Ministry said.
Featured photo via Pixabay
