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At the inauguration ceremony of the Fehér-tó substation (southern Hungary, near Szeged) of the Hungarian electricity company, MVM Démász Áramhálózati Kft., Zsófia Koncz said that the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions policy have created a very difficult energy situation. The government has set itself the goal of creating security of energy supply and ensuring that consumers have access to energy at affordable prices. She added that it is also important to produce as much energy as possible at home, reports MTI.
The share of solar energy in the Hungarian electricity mix is the sixth highest in the world and the third highest in Europe. Last year, 1,100 megawatts of solar capacity was installed in Hungary, more than the total before 2019. By the end of last year, the installed photovoltaic capacity in Hungary exceeded 4,000 MW, and in the first four months of this year, more than 700 MW of additional investments were completed, the politician said.
The government planned to build 6,000 MW of solar PV capacity by 2030. This seems achievable within a year or two and could be doubled by the end of the decade, she explained. The state secretary pointed out that since February, the peak production of industrial solar power plants has been broken every month. And on May 1, there was a quarter of an hour when domestic electricity demand was met entirely from carbon-neutral, 94% renewable sources.
Zsófia Koncz said that the completion of the Fehér-Tó substation was the first in a series of investments to improve the energy network. The next substation will be completed in Soltvadkert (southern Hungary, near Kiskunhalas). Within three years, MVM intends to increase the volume of energy generated by solar power plants and fed into the grid by more than 400 MW. Similar investments to increase the flexibility of the electricity grid are also being carried out at MVM.
In addition, three combined cycle gas turbine power plant units are being built: one in Visonta (northern Hungary, near Gyöngyös) and two in Tiszaújváros (eastern Hungary). The Ministry of Energy is also supporting the development of battery energy storage, she added.
Béla Mihálffy (KDNP), MP for the region, said the new substation is of particular importance for the power supply of the Science Park, which is being built next to the Szeged Laser Research Center. The government is supporting the construction of the infrastructure of the science and innovation park with HUF 9.5 billion (€26 million).
Attila Bally, Deputy Chief Technical Officer of MVM, said that the new substation and the construction of the 3-kilometer-long high-voltage transmission line connected to it is one of the largest electricity investments in the region in recent years.
The development was completed in 11 months, on a one-hectare site, with almost HUF 4 billion (€11 million), partly financed by the EU. The two 132/22 kV, 40 MVA transformers at the substation can meet the energy needs of a city the size of Szeged, with 160,000 residential customers, he said.
In addition to serving local and emerging industrial needs, the investment will also enable the reception of energy generated by new solar power plants built in the region, according to the Deputy CEO.
Special attention has been paid to bird protection, including the installation of bird deflectors to prevent birds from colliding with the overhead lines by reflecting sunlight and UV light,” said Bally.
via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Tibor Rosta
