Hungary pushes major wind power expansion as Germany dismantles troubled turbine

A costly German wind turbine, built for €10 million, is being dismantled after just two and a half years because of noise complaints and technical faults, highlighting the challenges of large‑scale wind projects. Hungarian officials cite the German case as a warning as they plan to more than double the country’s wind capacity, seeking at least 700 MW of new capacity by the end of August and aiming for around 4 GW by 2030 with EU funding.

To support the expansion, the Hungarian government has drafted reforms to simplify permitting, raise the maximum turbine hub height to 199 m, broaden the criteria for “easy‑zone” sites, introduce an 85‑day deadline for environmental assessments, and clarify exemptions from the KAT electricity levy. The proposals aim to accelerate construction, increase system flexibility, and address societal and technical concerns that have slowed previous projects.