In a significant step toward strengthening energy sovereignty, the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL inaugurated its first industrial battery storage system on Thursday. The facility, located on the grounds of MOL Petrolkémia in Tiszaújváros, sets new standards for energy infrastructure in Eastern Hungary.
With a storage capacity of 40 megawatt-hours (MWh), the new system is the largest of its kind in the region. The total investment amounted to 6.6 billion forint (17 million euros), with the project receiving 2.7 billion forint (7 million euros) in funding from the European Union under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
During the opening ceremony, Energy Minister Csaba Lantos emphasized the strategic importance of the project.
Over the past 15 years, the Hungarian solar park sector has undergone tremendous development. Today, 330,000 solar installations are already generating electricity in the country,”
he emphasized. However, since the sun does not shine around the clock, expanding storage capacity is absolutely essential to maintain grid stability.
Hungary currently has an installed photovoltaic capacity of 8,500 megawatts, but this is offset by only about 240 megawatts of storage capacity. The government is therefore pursuing an ambitious plan. The current storage capacity corresponds to about 8–10 percent of demand. The goal by 2028 is to increase capacity tenfold to 2,400 to 2,600 megawatts. To achieve this, the government is relying on subsidy programs for both private households and businesses.
For the MOL Group, the storage facility in Tiszaújváros is just the beginning. Oszkár Világi, Deputy Chairman of the Group’s Executive Board, explained that the company already operates solar parks with a capacity of 400 megawatts and has its sights firmly set on the 500-megawatt target.
Péter Császár, CEO of MOL Petrolkémia, outlined the specific plans for the site. By 2030, the goal is to achieve 100 megawatts of solar capacity and at least 80 megawatts of industrial storage capacity.
The system can store and feed back into the grid the annual electricity consumption of approximately 7,300 average households. “This not only secures our production but also stabilizes the regional power grid,”
emphasized Péter Császár.
In addition to the technical aspects, Member of Parliament Zsófia Koncz highlighted the social significance. MOL’s ongoing investments would offer young people in the region long-term prospects through dual training programs and secure jobs.
Hungary is relying on a mix of nuclear power (expansion of Paks II and extension of the operating life of Paks I) and renewable energies for its future energy supply. The new storage facility in Tiszaújváros serves as a crucial link in balancing grid fluctuations and further advancing the country’s energy independence.
Via MTI; Featured image: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
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