Thanks to the investment, MOL will be able to enter the market for system-level services operated by Mavir. 

The HUF 6.6 billion facility is set to play an important role in balancing fluctuations in the national electricity grid. MOL plans to build a total of 500 MWh of storage capacity in Hungary by 2030. The investment is supported by a non-repayable grant of HUF 2.699 billion from the European Union under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, coordinated by the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development.

The unit in Tiszaújváros will support the national transmission network by balancing grid fluctuations. The commercial operation of this will be carried out by Alteo. MOL and its partners hold a 73.8% stake in Alteo Energiaszolgáltató Nyrt., which has approximately 110 MW of renewable energy-based generation capacity (wind, solar, hydro, biogas) and currently provides around 40% of Hungary’s total energy storage capacity.

Solar Energy Sector in Continuous Development

At the inauguration ceremony of the facility, Minister of Energy Csaba Lantos emphasized that Hungary’s solar energy sector has developed enormously over the past 15 years. In addition, last year the country produced more than one million tons of crude oil and nearly two billion cubic meters of natural gas.

He added that Hungary also has significant nuclear energy production capacity. The Paks II project is under construction, and the operating lifetime of the Paks I nuclear power plant is being extended. The minister noted that there are now 330,000 solar power installations operating in the country. He added that when the sun is not shining, electricity must be stored, and alongside the country’s 8,500 MW solar capacity, Hungary currently has around 240 MW of energy storage capacity.

This storage capacity represents roughly 8–10% of Hungary’s current electricity generation capability. The goal is to increase this tenfold by 2028, meaning battery storage capacity of 2,400–2,600 MW. The minister said that the residential energy storage program, which attracted 132,000 applicants, was also aimed at achieving this objective.

MOL’s Renewable Strategy

Renewable energy plays a key role in MOL Group’s strategy, and the development of battery energy storage capacity is essential for its efficient use. MOL Petrochemicals already operates a 5.8 MW solar park, which will soon be followed by another with a capacity of 48 MW. MOL already has more than 400 MW of solar power capacity in Hungary, which it plans to expand further in the future.

“The MOL Group’s long-term strategy is clear: through a smart transition, we are making our region greener, more self-sufficient, and more competitive, while moving toward carbon neutrality in a pragmatic and responsible way. At every step, we ensure a balance between sustainability, security of supply, and economic competitiveness. Our investment in Tiszaújváros is a good example of this: today, we have not only inaugurated the largest industrial energy storage system in Eastern Hungary. Today, we have laid one of the cornerstones of the energy system of the future,” said Oszkár Világi, deputy CEO of MOL Group.

The investment is being implemented at a cost of HUF 6.6 bln, with support of HUF 2.699 bln from the European Union under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, coordinated by the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development.