Hungary is witnessing a notable shift in its electricity sector, marked by a significant increase in domestic generation and a corresponding decrease in reliance on electricity imports. This transformation is primarily driven by the rapid growth of renewable energy sources, especially solar power, as highlighted in recent analyses.
Electricity demand in Hungary has shown stability over recent years, with total consumption reaching 48,338 GWh in 2025. This figure aligns closely with the consumption levels of the preceding two years. Since 2014, overall demand has increased by approximately 13%, up from 42,793 GWh.
The structure of electricity consumption has also undergone changes. Gross consumption now factors in final demand, transmission losses, and internal electricity use by power plants. Notably, network losses have decreased from 8.49% in 2014 to 5.83% in 2025, while internal plant consumption has dropped from 5.29% to 3.54%. These improvements are largely credited to enhanced transmission infrastructure and greater digitalization within the electricity network, alongside the rise of decentralized renewable generation.
Domestic electricity generation has expanded markedly, with output rising by 3.6% in 2025 compared to the previous year and nearly 34% since 2014. Currently, domestic power plants provide over 81% of Hungary’s electricity supply, a significant increase from 68.5% in 2014, indicating a substantial boost in energy self-sufficiency.
Renewable energy plays a crucial role in this growth trajectory. A decade ago, renewables contributed only 10.72% to domestic electricity generation; however, this share surged to 35.12% by 2025. Solar power emerged as the leading contributor, with generation climbing to 10,730 GWh in 2025—an increase of 16.6% from the previous year—accounting for more than 27% of total electricity production. Approximately one-third of solar generation stems from household and small-scale installations under 50 kW.
Conversely, fossil fuels have seen their share diminish significantly, decreasing from 35.47% in 2014 to just over 23% by 2025, primarily due to reduced coal usage.
Changes are also evident in Hungary’s electricity trade patterns. While absolute imports have increased, their proportion of total consumption has fallen from over 31% in 2014 to below 19% in 2025. In contrast, exports have risen substantially from 5,689 GWh in 2014 to an impressive 14,340 GWh in 2025—a nearly 20% increase compared to the previous year’s exports of 11,988 GWh.
These developments collectively suggest a more balanced and diversified electricity system for Hungary. The growth of domestic production coupled with the rapid deployment of renewable energy sources is progressively reducing the country’s dependence on foreign electricity and enhancing its position within the regional electricity market.
