Hungary, Nordic states hold conference on local green energy use

Budapest, May 8 (MTI) – To secure a steady and stable energy supply, Hungary should use local, innovative and renewable energy sources as well, the foreign state secretary told a business forum.

László Szabó spoke to investors and representatives of local authorities at the first “Nordic Green Light” business forum, organised to promote international networks for “green” companies and widen the prospects of municipalities for implementing local, “green” technologies. The forum hosted 15 local authorities, as well as 80 Hungarian and 20 foreign companies from five Nordic countries.

The state secretary said that renewable energy already makes up 15 percent of the country’s energy supply, a figure which the country has originally undertaken to achieve only by 2020. The long-term aim is to raise this rate to 50 percent, he said.

The concept of a central, state-owned energy provider is now outdated, Szabó said. The supply system is to become more flexible with the inclusion of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal energy, he said. The Nordic companies present at the forum can share valuable experiences with the Hungarian partners, he added.