INCREASING THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN HUNGARY
Ádám Ragoncza’s Hungarian company, Nawaro, has led the construction of a 1.6MW biogas plant in the Balaton area in Western Hungary. This project was made possible thanks to the support of the EEA Grants during the 2009-2014 funding period.
The Balaton plant was officially opened in February 2017. The plant uses local agricultural manure and residues from the food industry to produce around 10.3 GWh of green electricity annually. This is the equivalent of the energy usage of about 2 500 households and a CO2 reduction of 10 000 tonnes/year. The solid and liquid bi-products generated during operation are used as fertiliser in agricultural areas, reducing the plant’s waste footprint. The project has also led to the creation of local jobs.
Read more stories from projects we have supported under the climate change and energy sector.
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Climate change continuously shapes the world’s economic and social development.
The European Environment Agency’s 2016 report on climate change, impacts and vulnerability points out that rising sea levels, altered rainfall patterns, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events are already affecting citizens and ecosystems in Europe in a number of ways. Observed changes such as droughts, coastal erosion, spread of invasive species, and heat waves are threatening not only human health, but also food production and biodiversity. Although changes are occurring across the continent, impacts are not uniform; South-eastern Europe and the Mediterranean face more severe changes than regions in the West and North. Without investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation, Europe faces great risks not only in environmental terms, but also with respect to economic development.
