From October 2025 through September 2026, low-carbon sources supplied about 58% of Hungary’s electricity consumption. Nuclear provided almost 30% and solar about 23%, making them the country’s leading clean electricity sources. Biofuels contributed around 4% and wind about 1%. Fossil fuels supplied roughly 18%, mostly gas at 15%, with coal accounting for about 2.5%. Net imports covered another 23%; their low-carbon or fossil composition is not specified in these figures.

Is Electricity Growing in Hungary?

Hungary’s electricity consumption is growing, but clean electricity generation is not keeping pace. The latest 2026 consumption figure reached about 4,955 kWh per person, roughly 60 kWh—or just over 1%—above the previous record set in 2025. Meanwhile, low-carbon electricity generation fell to about 2,896 kWh per person, around 74 kWh below its 2025 record, a decline of roughly 2.5%. Rising electricity consumption makes expanding clean generation increasingly important, particularly as electrification and AI create additional demand.

Suggestions

Hungary should build on its existing strengths by expanding nuclear and solar electricity generation. Neighboring Slovakia, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds of electricity generation, and nearby Czechia, at about 41%, offer relevant examples of a substantial nuclear contribution. France’s roughly 67% nuclear share provides another strong benchmark. For solar, North Macedonia’s 40% share illustrates how a nearby region can make sunlight a major electricity source. Hungary could also develop more wind generation, drawing lessons from neighboring Austria and Romania, where wind supplies about 12–13% of electricity generation. Together, these clean sources could support growing consumption and reduce reliance on fossil electricity, with its associated climate and air-pollution impacts.

History

Hungary’s low-carbon electricity history features major nuclear expansion followed more recently by strong solar growth. From 1983 through 1988, the listed annual nuclear increases added up to 13.5 TWh. The sharp 2.9 TWh nuclear decline in 2003 was a serious setback for clean electricity output; increases in 2004, 2005 and 2007 subsequently restored substantial generation. Biofuels also added 0.9 TWh in 2005. From 2019 through 2025, solar delivered uninterrupted annual gains totaling 10 TWh, including particularly strong increases of 1.9 TWh in 2023 and 2.4 TWh in 2024. Nuclear declines of 1.1 TWh in 2020 and 1 TWh in 2026 were disappointing reversals, underscoring the importance of sustaining existing clean output while expanding nuclear and solar capacity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.