Hungary | Shaping the Future of Energy in Hajdú-Bihar

The fourth regional stakeholder meeting in Hajdú-Bihar took place on 26 November 2024 in Debrecen. The event began with a brief overview, followed by a presentation of the county's involvement and the scope of the upcoming professional tasks. Participants also had the opportunity to discuss insights gained from study visits to North Karelia, Rzeszów, Kilkenny, Paris, and Alba Iulia.

Stakeholders who participated in the recent study visit to Romania shared their findings, focusing on smart city initiatives, LED street lighting, wifi hotspots, and the DELEX building, which is powered by solar panels and requires minimal heating. The potential of these good practices was highlighted as a source of inspiration for future developments in Hajdú-Bihar.

The meeting also included an analysis of the county’s energy landscape. Discussions emphasized the importance of existing energy communities and the renewable energy plans of municipalities. A lively technical debate took place regarding the optimization of energy distribution and the availability of necessary data, engineering, and IT solutions. Participants reaffirmed the need to promote the widespread use of renewable energy sources while ensuring cost-effectiveness. In addition to solar and geothermal energy, stakeholders identified vertical wind farms as a potential opportunity for further expansion.

The dialogue on future plans for the county will continue at the next stakeholder event in late spring 2025.