Hungary Boosts Wind Power While Czech Cuts Renewable Zones

The new Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced a plan to increase installed wind‑farm capacity tenfold, targeting nearly 1 GW by 2030. The expansion will shrink the protective setback distance around turbines to about 700 metres, a move justified by the prospect of €1.5 billion from the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund and a desire to align with EU renewable‑energy directives. Critics warn the rapid build‑out could damage the landscape and affect local wildlife.

In the Czech Republic, the coalition government reduced the area designated as “acceleration zones” for renewable projects from 2 685 km² to just 297 km², cutting the planned footprint to roughly eleven percent of the original proposal. Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček said the revision responds to thousands of comments from regions and municipalities concerned about the visual and noise impact of wind farms, while still reserving sites for both wind and solar installations.