Recently, accelerating the expansion of wind power in Hungary has once again come onto the agenda. According to Gusztáv Oelberg, a mechanical engineer specializing in fluid dynamics and an associate university lecturer, several factors must be carefully considered before this wave of investment gets underway. These include Hungary’s wind conditions, the costs of grid management, the environmental impact, and what happens to turbines at the end of their life cycle.
The interviewee of Magyar Nemzet considers accelerating the domestic expansion of wind turbines problematic primarily because Hungary’s natural conditions differ considerably from those of countries that are often held up as models. In regions of Western Europe with an oceanic climate, particularly along the Atlantic and North Sea coasts, winds are stronger and more consistent, whereas Hungary is a continental country with weaker and less predictable wind conditions. Another important factor is that turbines can affect the output of neighboring installations: if they are placed too close together, an upwind turbine can reduce the electricity generated by those behind it.
Maps from the New European Wind Atlas show that the average wind speed in Scotland, along Ireland’s west coast, and in the coastal regions of the Netherlands is around 12 meters per second, while in Hungary it is typically around 5 to 6 meters per second. This matters because the theoretical power that can be extracted from wind is proportional to the cube of the wind speed.
Thus, if the wind speed is roughly halved, the theoretical power available at that moment can fall to as little as one-eighth.
However, annual electricity generation cannot be determined based on a single average wind speed alone. The height of the tower, the size of the rotor, variations in wind strength throughout the year, and the age and technology of the turbine itself all play an important role.
Photo: Pexels
Oelberg considers the assumption of 2,000–2,400 operating hours per year in Hungary to be overly optimistic. He is also concerned that the state could eventually be called upon to provide financial guarantees, as happened with some models used during the earlier privatization of the electricity sector, if actual production falls short of the figures projected in the business plan.
A frequently cited argument in favor of wind power is that it reduces the country’s energy dependence. This is an important consideration, but the costs of managing the electricity grid must not be overlooked.
Environmental aspects receive little attention, the expert argues. The foundation of a 5-megawatt wind turbine requires around 2,000 tons of concrete and approximately 100 tons of reinforcing steel. Under current practices, the foundation is often only partially removed after a turbine is decommissioned, leaving most of it underground. “Future generations should not inherit an obligation arising from a business decision made by a previous investor,” Oelberg warns.
There is considerable debate about noise from wind turbines, as well as infrasound. Although organizations such as the WHO and the UK’s National Health Service have found no convincing evidence that infrasound from properly installed wind turbines is inherently harmful to human health, the expert considers the research in this area insufficient.
Windmills in the snow-covered Bakony Mountains in winter. There are few particularly windy locations in Hungary, such as the Bakony Mountains. Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán
There are methods for recycling wind turbine blades, but he urges caution here as well. It is not enough for a material to be theoretically recyclable; a solution is needed that can also be implemented safely on an industrial scale.
It is also noteworthy that Shell has recently sold, or agreed to sell, several wind and solar assets and renewable-energy portfolios.
If a global energy company is reducing its investments in this sector, what economic considerations justify the substantial public subsidies for wind power in Hungary?”
the expert asks.
Any decision to build a wind turbine should be based on a detailed assessment of its economic, energy-related and environmental impacts. It must be determined where wind conditions and local circumstances in Hungary genuinely justify the construction of large wind turbines. Oelberg also considers it unacceptable for the state to guarantee the profitability of a private investment. Investors should bear the full costs of land restoration, including the removal of the foundation, and provide financial security to cover unforeseen environmental damage.
It is also important that proximity to a wind farm should not impose unjustified costs or reduce property values for local residents. The benefits and risks of an investment must be assessed according to the same standards, and the interests of local communities must not be treated as secondary. The protection of soil and landscape must be taken into account just as much as the amount of electricity generated.
Via Magyar Nemzet, Featured image: Pexels
The post Expert Warns Against Rushing Wind Power Expansion appeared first on Hungary Today.
Expert Warns Against Rushing Wind Power Expansion 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-08-24 15:20:54
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