Distribution-network storage commissioned in four Hungarian locations
E.ON Hungaria has commissioned four battery facilities on its distribution network, adding 4 MW of power and 12 MWh of storage capacity. The projects are designed to manage expanding solar generation and short-term demand swings. The installations are located in Puspokszilagy, Erdokertes, Saregres and Devecser.
Automated control for charging and discharging
The battery sites are operated through automated energy-management systems that monitor local network conditions. These systems determine when the batteries should charge or discharge. The control approach is intended to align storage output with distribution-level requirements.
Heatwave trials used storage during evening peaks
During heatwaves in July and August, E.ON adjusted the operation of active units to release electricity during evening peaks. Trials showed the batteries could provide rapid reserve capacity and local voltage support. The batteries also absorbed surplus daytime solar output during the same period.
Scale, funding and role versus utility-scale projects
Together, the four installations can handle volumes comparable to the production of about 1,000 household solar systems or the daily consumption of roughly 2,000 homes. Investment totalled approximately €8.2 million, supported by the EU Modernisation Fund. While the projects are small compared with utility-scale storage developments elsewhere in the region, their distribution-network placement gives them a role in addressing local congestion and voltage problems before conventional reinforcement becomes necessary.
Operational experience and system-wide expansion test
For E.ON, the immediate benefit is operational experience from running distributed assets on the network. For Hungary’s electricity system, the larger test will be whether distributed storage can expand quickly enough to keep pace with solar capacity changes that are already reshaping daily generation profiles.
