Following the relaxation of the regulatory framework that had previously imposed significant restrictions on the development of wind power projects, the Hungarian Government announced a new tender programme in June 2026 aimed at facilitating the expansion of domestic wind power generation capacity. The initiative seeks to diversify renewable electricity generation within the Hungarian power system and to substantially increase the volume of new wind generation capacity that can be connected to the electricity grid.

Purpose and key parameters of the tender programme

Under the programme announced on 24 June 2026, the Government initially set a target of enabling the grid connection of at least 700 MW of new wind power generation capacity. The tender notice is expected to be published by 31 August 2026. Prior to its publication, the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (HEPURA) launched an industry consultation on 22 July 2026 regarding the draft tender documentation. During the first phase of the consultation, HEPURA published the proposed participation requirements, the key parameters of the connection rights to be awarded, and the guiding principles relating to bid and performance securities. The second phase is expected to cover the evaluation criteria and the detailed scoring methodology.

According to the announcement, the programme could generate approximately EUR 1 billion in investment. At the same time, preliminary market feedback indicates that investor interest has exceeded expectations even before the formal launch of the tender. As a result, the Government has indicated that, instead of the initially planned 700 MW, it may allocate up to nearly 1,000 MW of grid connection capacity in the first round, provided that the necessary technical and network conditions are available.

Grid connection

One of the most notable features of the tender programme is that it should primarily be viewed not as an investment support scheme, but rather as a mechanism for allocating available grid injection capacity through a competitive process. Pursuant to the electricity act and Ministerial Decree no. 11/2025 (IV. 10.) of the Ministry of Energy on the allocation of available capacities on medium- and high-voltage electricity networks, grid connection rights are awarded through a tender procedure. HEPURA is responsible for the preparation and administration of the tender process.

The significance of both the regulatory framework and the currently planned tender lies in the fact that the lack of available grid capacity has been one of the principal constraints on renewable energy projects in Hungary in recent years. Previous grid connection procedures attracted substantial oversubscription, while the existing network infrastructure was capable of accommodating only a limited number of new weather-dependent generation facilities. Consequently, the main purpose of the current tender is to determine which projects will gain priority access to the available grid capacities.

In parallel, the Government has also announced a network development programme valued at approximately EUR 1.5 billion, aimed at expanding both the transmission and distribution networks. The programme may serve as a prerequisite for the deployment of larger-scale wind power projects, as well as other future power generation investments requiring grid connection.

The programme’s role in the development of Hungary’s electricity system

The political significance of the programme extends beyond the development of wind power projects themselves. Hungary’s currently installed wind power capacity amounts to only approximately 325 MW, representing only a small fraction of the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity. As virtually no new wind farms have been constructed in Hungary over the past one and a half decades, the current tender may be regarded as the first meaningful step towards the revival of the sector.

Government communications have consistently emphasised that wind and solar energy have complementary generation profiles. While solar power generation is most significant during daylight hours and particularly during the summer months, wind power generation generally performs more efficiently during the winter season. A greater integration of wind energy into the electricity system may therefore contribute to a more balanced operation of the power system, reduce the temporal variability of renewable generation, and decrease dependence on imported energy.

Although the final terms and conditions of the tender are still being developed, the details available to date clearly demonstrate that the programme is not primarily intended to support the construction of new wind farms as such. Rather, its central objective is to establish a long-term capacity allocation framework capable of enabling the grid integration of up to 4,000 MW of additional wind power capacity in Hungary by 2030.