Hungary’s electricity sector is undergoing a significant transformation as domestic generation grows and reliance on imports steadily declines. According to a study by the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation, the rapid expansion of renewable energy, particularly solar power, has been the driving force behind this shift.
Electricity demand in Hungary has remained broadly stable in recent years. Total consumption reached 48,338 GWh in 2025, roughly in line with the previous two years. Looking further back, overall demand has grown by around 13 % since 2014, when consumption was 42,793 GWh.
The structure of electricity consumption has also evolved. Gross consumption includes final demand, transmission losses, and internal electricity use by power plants. Over the past decade, network losses fell from 8.49 % in 2014 to 5.83 % in 2025, while internal plant consumption declined from 5.29 % to 3.54 %. Improvements are largely attributed to upgraded transmission infrastructure and increased digitalization of the electricity network, alongside the rise of decentralized renewable generation.
Domestic electricity generation has expanded significantly. Output increased 3.6 % in 2025 compared to the previous year and has risen nearly 34 % since 2014. Domestic power plants now supply over 81 % of Hungary’s electricity, up from 68.5 % in 2014, reflecting a major improvement in energy self-sufficiency.
Renewable energy has been central to this growth. A decade ago, renewables accounted for only 10.72 % of domestic electricity generation, but their share reached 35.12 % in 2025. Solar power is the main driver: generation jumped to 10,730 GWh in 2025, up 16.6 % from 9,200 GWh in 2024, making up more than 27 % of total electricity production. Roughly one third of this comes from household and small-scale installations under 50 kW.
Meanwhile, fossil fuels have gradually lost ground, with their contribution falling from 35.47 % in 2014 to just over 23 % in 2025, largely due to reduced coal use.
Electricity trade patterns are also changing. Although absolute imports have grown, their share of total consumption fell from over 31 % in 2014 to below 19 % in 2025. At the same time, exports increased from 5,689 GWh in 2014 to 14,340 GWh in 2025, a nearly 20 % rise compared with 11,988 GWh in 2024.
Taken together, these trends indicate a more balanced and diversified electricity system. The expansion of domestic production and rapid deployment of renewable energy are gradually reducing Hungary’s dependence on foreign electricity, while strengthening its role in the regional electricity market, the study concludes.
