Hungary is preparing a major expansion of wind power with a target of more than 6 GW of installed capacity by 2040. The plan is aimed at reducing electricity import dependence while balancing a generation mix increasingly dominated by solar and nuclear power. The proposed level of wind capacity would represent a fundamental change in Hungary’s renewable electricity profile.
The country already has almost 9 GW of installed solar capacity, while wind remains comparatively undeveloped at less than 350 MW. Meeting the 2040 objective would require installed wind capacity to rise more than seventeenfold from current levels. The scale of the programme would therefore involve a significant buildout of new wind projects.
MEKH competitive process for new wind projects
The Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority, MEKH, has launched a competitive process for new wind developments. Applications are due by 30 October 2026. The programme is intended to restart investment in a sector that has seen years of limited development.
Hungary’s renewed focus on wind is linked to electricity security and exposure to imports. Despite substantial solar investment, the country continues to rely heavily on electricity imports when domestic generation cannot meet demand. This import reliance is reflected in market outcomes during periods of insufficient supply.
For October 14 delivery, forecast electricity imports reached approximately 2,024 MW against total consumption of 5,086 MW. Imports were therefore expected to cover almost 40% of electricity demand. The wholesale market also continued to trade at a substantial premium to Germany, reflecting regional supply conditions and cross-border availability .
Role of wind in balancing solar-dominated output
Greater domestic wind generation could help reduce import exposure, particularly during periods when solar output is limited. Wind offers a different production profile from solar and can contribute electricity during evening, night-time and winter periods. Output remains weather-dependent, affecting how much generation can be delivered at any given time.
The government also views additional domestic generation as protection against external energy shocks. Hungary’s energy system has previously faced constraints associated with low Danube water levels, which affected the operation of its nuclear generating facilities. Those events highlighted vulnerability tied to concentrated generation assets .
Nuclear lifetime extension alongside wind and solar buildout
Nuclear power is expected to remain central to Hungary’s long-term strategy, with lifetime extension of the existing Paks plant treated as a priority. Wind development is therefore expected to complement nuclear generation and the expanding solar fleet rather than replace them. This positioning aligns the wind programme with broader portfolio planning across technologies.
For developers, the size of the proposed programme could support demand for turbine equipment, grid connections, project financing and related infrastructure. Achieving the 2040 target will require faster permitting, viable grid access and long-term electricity contracting arrangements that can support investment. The financial challenge also includes developing projects under increasingly market-based conditions as renewable revenues become more exposed to wholesale prices and merchant risk.
