Hungary Lifts Wind Power Expansion Freeze, Targets More Than Tenfold Capacity Increase by 2030
Budapest – Hungary plans to expand its installed wind power capacity to around 4 GW by 2030, more than ten times current levels, ending a de facto freeze on new wind farm development that has lasted almost a decade. The announcement was made by Economy and Energy Minister István Kapitány in a government statement.
First Wind Tender Planned for 2026
The expansion is set to begin this year. According to the Ministry of Economy, draft tender terms are currently undergoing public consultation, with the first tender expected to be published by the end of August. The tender volume was originally planned at a minimum of 700 MW of wind capacity, but Minister Kapitány said strong investor interest has prompted the government to raise this to nearly 1,000 MW. By 2030, the government aims to expand installed wind capacity to around 4 GW, up from roughly 330 MW today.
Wind power development in Hungary had come to a near standstill in the early 2010s after new tenders ceased. A setback distance rule introduced in 2016, which effectively excluded turbines within 12 kilometers of residential areas, further blocked new projects. The government eased the restriction in 2024, reducing the minimum distance to 700 meters and reopening the path for new wind farm development.
Grid Expansion to Accelerate Renewables Integration
Alongside the wind program, the government is advancing grid infrastructure upgrades. The Ministry of Economy said around EUR 1.5 billion will be invested in modernizing transmission and distribution networks, funded through the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
The ministry has also launched a public consultation on a package of legislative amendments. These include the introduction of dynamic electricity tariffs, a legal framework for independent aggregators, simplified permitting and grid connection procedures for renewable energy projects, and expanded deployment of smart meters. The measures are intended to ease the integration of additional wind and solar capacity into the power system.
Solar Boom Increases Need for a Balanced Power Mix
Hungary has become one of Europe's fastest-growing solar markets. In recent years, however, renewable capacity growth has been concentrated almost entirely in photovoltaics, increasing grid bottlenecks and demands on system flexibility.
These challenges became particularly apparent during the heatwave in late June 2026. Electricity consumption reached record levels while the Paks nuclear power plant was forced to temporarily reduce output due to high Danube river temperatures. Authorities responded by temporarily approving higher cooling water discharge temperatures to limit the output reduction. A larger wind power buildout is intended to help offset weather-related fluctuations in solar generation and improve overall system stability.
EU: Hungary Moves Back Toward the European Union's Energy Policy Targets
With its return to wind energy, Hungary is also moving closer to the European Union's energy policy targets. The revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) sets a target of at least 42.5 percent renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2030, with the EU pursuing a collective target of 45 percent. The EU's Wind Power Action Plan additionally calls on member states to speed up permitting procedures, remove regulatory barriers, and significantly accelerate wind power deployment.
By opening up to new wind projects, Hungary is also aligning with the broader European push to diversify the technology base of renewable energy expansion. After years in which growth was driven almost exclusively by solar power, wind energy is now expected to once again make a significantly larger contribution to the country's electricity supply.
Source: IWR Online, 28 Jul 2026
