Electricity Grid Review 2025: Hungary

January 1 - December 31, 2024 vs 2025

Data coverage: 366 days (2024), 365 days (2025)

1. Electricity Price (Day-Ahead, EUR/MWh)

Mean 2024

€104.9

Mean 2025

€112.4

+€7.5

Monthly Average Day-Ahead Price

EUR/MWh

20242025

Price-Carbon Correlation

Correlation coefficient: -0.41 (2024), -0.62 (2025). Moderate correlation between price and carbon intensity.

1.1 Daily Price Extremes

Based on daily average prices

Metric	2024	2025
Highest Daily Avg	€377.5 (Dec 12, 2024)	€249.1 (Jan 20, 2025)
Lowest Daily Avg	€20.0 (Apr 28, 2024)	€27.2 (Mar 30, 2025)
Negative Price Days	0	0
Negative Price Hours	261	277

1.2 Hourly Price Extremes

Metric	2024	2025
Highest Price	€999.0 (Jul 18, 2024 18:00)	€615.2 (Jan 20, 2025 16:00)
Lowest Price	€-150.0 (May 12, 2024 12:00)	€-210.1 (May 11, 2025 12:00)

1.3 Days by Price Range

Based on daily average prices

Range (€/MWh)	2024	2025	Δ
€0-50	22	6	-16
€51-100	186	124	-62
€101-150	107	194	+87
€151-200	29	33	+4
€201+	22	8	-14

1.4 Hours by Price Range

Based on hourly prices

Range (€/MWh)	2024	2025	Δ
Negative	261	277	+16
€0-50	985	716	-269
€51-100	4,114	2,804	-1,310
€101-150	2,293	3,402	+1,109
€151-200	630	1,026	+396
€201+	456	462	+6

1.5 Average Price by Hour of Day

2025 Average Price by Hour

€/MWh

1.6 Price Distribution (Hourly)

Price Distribution

Number of hours at each level

20242025

Negative Price Events

277 hours with negative prices across 59 days. Most negative: €-210.1/MWh.

Intraday Price Volatility

Average daily price swing: €163/MWh. Maximum single-day swing was €501/MWh on 2025-01-20 (low: €114, high: €615).

Notable monthly evolutions

⚠️ Feb 2025: Electricity prices were 130% higher than Feb 2024

Change: +130% vs 2024

1.7 Multi-Level Price Heatmap

Price Heatmap

€/MWh

108.7 €/MWh yearly avg

hourly range: -210-615

Yearly

Monthly

Daily

Hourly

600

175

-250

2. Load

Load 2024

43.2 TWh

Load 2025

43.1 TWh

-0.3%

Production 2024

32.3 TWh

Production 2025

34.0 TWh

+5.0%

2.1 Monthly Load

Monthly Consumption vs Production

TWh per month

Consumption 2024Consumption 2025Production 2024Production 2025

2.2 Average Load by Hour of Day

5.82.90

00:0006:0012:0018:0023:00

Load Pattern

Peak demand at 17:00 (5.8 GW). Minimum at 01:00 (4.2 GW).

2.3 Weekday vs Weekend

Weekday Average

5.1 GW

Weekend Average

4.5 GW

2.4 Net Load Pattern (Duck Curve)

Net Load Pattern (excl. Solar & Wind)

GW

Solar Integration Challenge

Evening ramp of 2.5 GW from belly (11:00) to evening peak (18:00). This requires flexible dispatchable generation or storage to meet rapidly increasing demand as solar output decreases.

2.5 Seasonal Net Load Patterns

The duck curve shape varies significantly by season due to changes in solar intensity and heating/cooling demand patterns.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Winter (Dec-Feb) Net Load Pattern

GW

Belly: 4.5 GW @ 02:00 | Peak: 6.1 GW @ 17:00 | Ramp: 1.7 GW

Spring (Mar-May)

Spring (Mar-May) Net Load Pattern

GW

Belly: 2.4 GW @ 11:00 | Peak: 5.3 GW @ 18:00 | Ramp: 2.9 GW

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Summer (Jun-Aug) Net Load Pattern

GW

Belly: 1.9 GW @ 10:00 | Peak: 5.1 GW @ 18:00 | Ramp: 3.2 GW

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Fall (Sep-Nov) Net Load Pattern

GW

Belly: 3.2 GW @ 10:00 | Peak: 5.6 GW @ 17:00 | Ramp: 2.4 GW

Seasonal Comparison

Evening ramps are similar across seasons: winter 1.7 GW, summer 3.2 GW. The grid faces consistent ramping challenges year-round.

2.6 Peak & Minimum Demand Records (2025)

Rank	Highest Load	Date	Lowest Load	Date
1	7.4 GW	2025-01-20 10:00	2.3 GW	2025-04-21 11:00
2	7.4 GW	2025-01-20 11:00	2.4 GW	2025-04-21 12:00
3	7.4 GW	2025-01-22 10:00	2.5 GW	2025-04-21 10:00

3. Production-Based vs Flow-Traced Carbon Intensity (gCO₂eq/kWh)

Key Insight

Production-based carbon intensity is 4.5g higher than flow-traced carbon intensity in 2024 (-19.8g in 2025). This means Hungary's imports are cleaner than domestic production, lowering the carbon footprint of consumed electricity.

Production-Based 2024

232.0 g

Production-Based 2025

199.5 g

-32.5

Flow-Traced 2024

227.5 g

Flow-Traced 2025

219.2 g

-8.3

3.1 Monthly Production Mix

Production Mix by Month

GWh per month by source

2024: left bars2025: right bars

Nuclear

Hydro

Wind

Solar

Biomass

Gas

Coal

Oil

Hydro Storage

Battery

3.2 Production Mix (Domestic Generation)

2024 Production

48%

20%

18%

8%

2025 Production

46%

22%

20%

5%

5%

3.3 Flow-Traced Power Mix

2024 Flow-Traced

43%

16%

11%

11%

10%

4%

2025 Flow-Traced

44%

18%

12%

9%

7%

4%

Nuclear

Hydro

Wind

Solar

Biomass

Gas

Coal

Oil

Hydro Storage

Battery

3.4 Import/Export Impact on Mix

Hydro makes up ~7% of consumed electricity but only ~1% of local production (difference from imports). Solar makes up ~20% of local production but only ~12% of consumed electricity (some exported).

3.5 Power Mix Comparison

Production vs Flow-Traced consumption by source

Source	Prod 2024	Flow-traced 2024	Prod 2025	Flow-traced 2025
Nuclear	47.7%	42.9%	45.6% (-2.1pp)	44.0% (+1.1pp)
Gas	20.2%	15.8%	22.2% (+2.0pp)	18.2% (+2.4pp)
Solar	17.9%	11.1%	20.4% (+2.5pp)	12.1% (+1.0pp)
Coal	8.2%	10.8%	4.6% (-3.6pp)	9.1% (-1.7pp)
Hydro	0.6%	10.2%	0.6% (+0.0pp)	7.0% (-3.2pp)
Biomass	3.3%	3.3%	4.9% (+1.6pp)	4.2% (+0.9pp)
Wind	2.0%	4.2%	1.7% (-0.3pp)	3.9% (-0.3pp)
Hydro Storage	0.0%	1.4%	0.0% (+0.0pp)	1.3% (-0.1pp)
Oil	0.1%	0.3%	0.0% (-0.1pp)	0.3% (+0.0pp)

3.6 Key Trend

Nuclear Dominance (Flow-Traced)

Hungary's electricity consumption is dominated by ~44.0% nuclear. Gas saw the biggest growth from 15.8% to 18.2%.

4. Cross-Border Electricity Flows

Total Exports 2025

12.86 TWh

+22.0%

Total Imports 2025

21.99 TWh

+2.6%

Net Position 2025

-9.14 TWh

Hungary: Net Electricity Importer

Hungary imported a net 9.14 TWh in 2025.

4.1 2025 Gross Exports (Hungary → Neighbor)

Total electricity exported to each country — with average carbon intensity

4.70 TWh

205g

3.73 TWh

215g

2.89 TWh

200g

1.12 TWh

198g

1.01 TWh

192g

0.67 TWh

161g

0.19 TWh

121g

4.2 2025 Gross Imports (Neighbor → Hungary)

Total electricity imported from each country — with average carbon intensity

14.66 TWh

234g

4.76 TWh

197g

1.25 TWh

228g

0.77 TWh

187g

0.57 TWh

529g

0.21 TWh

235g

0.15 TWh

257g

4.3 Net Position by Neighbor (2025)

Neighbor	Net (TWh)	Direction
HR	+4.49	Net Exporter
RO	+3.58	Net Exporter
SI	+2.12	Net Exporter
RS	+0.55	Net Exporter
UA	-0.24	Net Importer
AT	-4.09	Net Importer
SK	-14.47	Net Importer

Positive = Hungary is net exporter to that neighbor. Negative = Hungary is net importer from that neighbor.

4.4 Flow Pattern by Hour of Day

Cross-Border Flow Pattern by Hour

MW (positive = export, negative = import)

Net ExportNet Import

Cross-Border Flow Timing

Peak exports at 10:00 (0.5 GW avg). Peak imports at 18:00 (2.3 GW avg).

5. Carbon Intensity (gCO₂eq/kWh)

Mean 2024

227.5 g

Mean 2025

219.2 g

-8.3

Monthly Average Carbon Intensity

gCO₂eq/kWh (flow-traced)

20242025

5.1 Daily Records

Metric	2024	2025
Lowest Carbon Intensity	134.8 g (Sep 29, 2024)	104.8 g (May 11, 2025)
Lowest Fossil %	15.6% (Jun 15, 2024)	11.3% (May 31, 2025)
Highest Carbon Intensity	331.7 g (Dec 12, 2024)	329.4 g (Jan 22, 2025)
Highest Fossil %	47.6% (Dec 12, 2024)	47.1% (Nov 25, 2025)

5.2 Hourly Records

Metric	2024	2025
Lowest Carbon Intensity	93.0 g (Apr 28, 2024 11:00)	55.6 g (May 10, 2025 07:00)
Highest Carbon Intensity	359.0 g (Nov 18, 2024 20:00)	351.6 g (Jan 22, 2025 04:00)

5.3 Days Below Thresholds

Threshold	2024	2025	Δ
< 100 gCO₂eq/kWh	0	0	0
< 200 gCO₂eq/kWh	127	174	+47
< 300 gCO₂eq/kWh	346	342	-4

5.4 Hours Below Thresholds

Threshold	2024	2025	Δ
< 100 gCO₂eq/kWh	11	464	+453
< 200 gCO₂eq/kWh	3,208	3,763	+555
< 300 gCO₂eq/kWh	8,035	7,921	-114

5.5 Average Carbon Intensity by Hour of Day

2025 Average Carbon Intensity by Hour

gCO₂eq/kWh

5.6 Seasonal Carbon Intensity Patterns

Carbon intensity daily patterns shift with seasonal changes in renewable generation and electricity demand.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Winter (Dec-Feb) Carbon Intensity

gCO₂eq/kWh

Peak: 297 g @ 19:00 | Trough: 225 g @ 11:00 | Spread: 72 g

Spring (Mar-May)

Spring (Mar-May) Carbon Intensity

gCO₂eq/kWh

Peak: 220 g @ 21:00 | Trough: 121 g @ 11:00 | Spread: 99 g

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Summer (Jun-Aug) Carbon Intensity

gCO₂eq/kWh

Peak: 217 g @ 21:00 | Trough: 107 g @ 10:00 | Spread: 110 g

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Fall (Sep-Nov) Carbon Intensity

gCO₂eq/kWh

Peak: 253 g @ 17:00 | Trough: 162 g @ 10:00 | Spread: 91 g

Seasonal Comparison

Summer offers the lowest carbon intensity, with midday troughs reaching 107 gCO₂/kWh—52% lower than winter. Winter evening peaks are the most carbon-intensive at 297 gCO₂/kWh. Scheduling flexible loads during seasonal low-carbon windows maximizes emission reductions.

5.7 Carbon Intensity Distribution (Hourly)

Carbon Intensity Distribution

Number of hours at each level

20242025

Notable monthly evolutions

ℹ️ Aug 2025: Carbon intensity was 23% lower in Aug

Change: -23% vs Aug 2024

Golden Hours

1,576 hours with both low price (<€85/MWh) and low carbon intensity (<159 gCO₂eq/kWh).

5.8 Multi-Level Carbon Intensity Heatmap

Carbon Intensity Heatmap

gCO₂eq/kWh

219.2 gCO₂eq/kWh yearly avg

hourly range: 56-352

Yearly

Monthly

Daily

Hourly

1200

600

0

6. Renewable & Carbon-Free Energy (Flow-Traced)

Includes electricity exchanged with neighboring grids

Renewable 2024

29.3%

Renewable 2025

27.5%

-1.8pp

Carbon-Free 2024

71.5%

Carbon-Free 2025

70.8%

-0.7pp

Monthly Carbon-Free Share

% of consumption (renewable + nuclear)

20242025

6.1 Days Above Thresholds

Days with carbon-free share above threshold

Threshold	2024	2025	Δ
≥50% carbon-free	0	0	0
≥60% carbon-free	0	0	0
≥70% carbon-free	0	0	0

6.2 Hours Above Thresholds

Hours with carbon-free share above threshold

Threshold	2024	2025	Δ
≥50% carbon-free	949	1,220	+271
≥60% carbon-free	67	318	+251
≥70% carbon-free	0	1	+1

6.3 Multi-Level Carbon-Free % Heatmap

Carbon-Free % Heatmap

70.8 % yearly avg

hourly range: 49-96

Yearly

Monthly

Daily

Hourly

100

50

0