Hungary closes its last coal-fired power station, builds first gas-fired power plant

A tender for the conversion of the lignite-fueled Mátra Power Plant to a combined-cycle gas turbine plant has been successfully closed, Energy Minister Csaba Lantos said at a conference organised by the Hungarian Hydrogen Technology Association on Thursday.

New, CCGT power plant to be built

Lantos noted that the tender was the first of three for CCGT power plants to be successfully closed. A condition of the Mátra Power Plant tender was ensuring the facility could operate with 30pc hydrogen, he added. Lantos said all efforts would be made to advance the green transition, but “the reality” was that large-capacity power plants would need to be put online rapidly in the coming 20-25 years to meet demand.

Lantos noted that more than one-fourth of Hungary’s electricity had come from renewables in 2024. Solar power capacity stands at 7,550 MW, he added. Lantos said Hungary’s current hydrogen strategy needed to be reviewed and a predictable, simple and transparent national regulatory framework established.

István Lepsényi, the head of the Hungarian Hydrogen Technology Association, highlighted the need to support the establishment of a hydrogen ecosystem.

Zoltán Áldott, who chairs the supervisory board of oil and gas company MOL, which hosted the conference at its Budapest HQ, said both green hydrogen and low-emissions hydrogen needed support.