In brief

Hungary is taking a significant step toward expanding its wind energy sector with the launch of a major competitive tender for grid connection capacity.

The tender announced by the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority makes available 702 MVA of medium- and high-voltage grid capacity across nine grid nodes for new and expanded wind power projects. This supports the government's broader objective of substantially increasing installed wind capacity by 2030 and creates a significant opportunity for wind developers and investors.

Applications may be submitted electronically until 30 October 2026 through the following link: MEKH - Pályázat benyújtása. The tender results are expected to be announced by 13 December 2026.

Key takeaways

  1. Node selection will be a key commercial decision. Connection costs vary significantly between locations, with Dunaújváros Dél and Iváncsa representing the lowest-cost options and Szombathely Észak the most expensive. Seven of the nine nodes also require bidders to undertake the direct network development and transfer the resulting connection infrastructure to the grid licensee without compensation (TMÁ).

    Grid node
    Capacity Voltage
    Network works
    Ács Katódgyár
    50 MVA
    132 kV
    TMÁ required
    Dunaújváros Dél
    50 MVA
    132 kV
    TMÁ required
    Iváncsa
    50 MVA
    132 kV
    TMÁ required
    Kisbér
    16 MVA
    22 kV
    TMÁ required
    Komárom Ipari Park
    21 MVA
    22 kV
    TMÁ required
    Ócsa
    255 MVA
    220 kV
    No mandatory TMÁ
    Székesfehérvár Nyugat
    40 MVA
    132 kV
    TMÁ required
    Szombathely Észak
    20 MVA
    22 kV
    TMÁ required
    Szombathely OVIT
    200 MVA
    132 kV
    No mandatory TMÁ
     
  2. Scoring is driven by both project characteristics and financial commitments. Out of the available 100 points, 35 points are available for EU-manufactured equipment, brownfield development, acceptance of a partial allocation and shared infrastructure, while the remaining 65 points require financial commitments such as municipal contributions, battery storage and additional installed capacity.

  3. The tender introduces a mandatory renewable energy community participation mechanism. Participation in the tender is conditional upon granting a 25% call option over the project company in favor of one or more government-designated renewable energy communities.

  4. Successful bidders will face strict post-award obligations and deadlines. These include providing performance security and submitting the grid connection request within 15 days, obtaining and evidencing a final construction permit by 1 January 2030, and commencing commercial operation by 30 September 2032.

  5. Only applicants who meet extensive eligibility criteria may participate. Participation is limited to Hungarian-registered project companies established exclusively for the purpose of the project. The tender also contains extensive exclusion grounds covering, among other matters, overdue public, connection or system-use debts, certain regulatory and competition-law infringements, insolvency proceedings and previous failures relating to grid connection rights or financial security.

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Aliz Wulcz, Associate, and Cristina Victoria Tapia-Soto, Junior Associate, have contributed to this legal update.

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