Legal, social, economic and ecological applicability of different RES in Hungary : public acceptance and environmental conditions, an overview in 2009

Abstract

A growing number of industrial consumers and households in Hungary switched to natural gas during the period of low prices of the 90s. However, because the high import - and fossile - energy carrier dependency, security issues mean nowadays a great challange. On the other hand, according to European legal engagements and national targets energy supplies from renewable sources should be essential components of the energy strategy of Hungary in the future. Based on the most authentic, relevant and up-to date information sources this work tries to give a Hungarian overview of RES utilization in different fields. The thesis reflects on legal-, ecologic-, business-, scientific- and social questions. At last a SWOT analyses presents the most important influential factors and characters of the Hungarian renewable energy sector. The share of renewable - solar, thermal, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal based - energy is gaining in Hungary but the increase is really small concerning the potential of the different renewable resources. While there is huge ecological potential of RES in Hungary we cannot see a wide range of RES applications, unfortunately. The existing equipments are usually large scale units. In this context diversification and decentralisation should be a top issue in the next years. The economic crisis and the subsequent recession have a great negative effect on investment from both business and the public, at least in Hungary. Without different types of subsidies and a decentralised, harmonised and technology-specific RES policy it is just an utopia to reach the ambition target of renewable energy resource utilization in Hungary.