Big Changes Ahead for Home Solar Owners in Hungary: What You Need to Know About New Regulations
Significant changes are coming for solar panel owners in Hungary as the government introduces a new data reporting system that will impact nearly 300,000 residential solar installations. According to the new regulations, inverter technical specifications, as well as energy consumption and production data, must be submitted to a central data center. While the government claims the system aims to enhance energy security and grid stability, the new requirements raise concerns around data privacy and financial implications for homeowners. When will the regulations come into effect, and what does this mean for solar owners? We’ve gathered all the essential details.
Overview of the New Regulation
Approximately 300,000 small-scale solar power plants (HMKE) will be affected by the new legislation approved by the Hungarian parliament. The legislation mandates that owners of residential solar panels report the unique identification number of their inverters to a government-run data center.
The government states that the goal is to support grid stability by gathering detailed data on solar production and consumption. This data will provide real-time insights into how household solar systems contribute to the electricity grid, which could be sensitive information for many users.
Who is FEAK Zrt., and How Does it Relate to the New System?
FEAK Zrt. (Independent Energy Data Center Ltd.) is a state-owned company founded in June 2023 with EU funds. According to its website, one of its main objectives is to improve energy security and facilitate the broader integration of renewable energy sources into Hungary’s electricity sector. FEAK Zrt. operates a nationwide, independent energy data center to support data-driven decision-making.
Under the new regulations, FEAK Zrt. will collect data from solar power systems, including inverter specifications, energy production, and consumption. This data collection will be carried out with the approval of the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH).
What Data Must Be Reported?
The new system requires solar owners to submit the following data to FEAK Zrt.:
- Production Capacity (kVA) of the small-scale solar plant
- Energy Produced (kWh)
- Energy Used on Site (kWh)
- Voltage and Current Measurements (per phase)
- Power Factor
- Detailed inverter information, including manufacturer, model, rated capacity, installation date, location, and voltage range settings.
Importantly, these are not billing data and cannot be used for financial settlements (e.g., net metering or gross billing). The utility’s verified meter at the connection point will still serve as the official point of reference for these calculations.
How and When Do Solar Owners Need to Report?
According to the proposed legislation, solar owners must report the unique identification number of their inverter within 60 days of installation. If they replace or upgrade their inverter, they must report the new identifier at the time of the installation request.
Solar owners will also need to ensure that the required technical solutions (e.g., devices) are in place to enable data transfer to the data center and confirm their compliance with data transmission protocols.
Technical Specifications for Data Reporting
FEAK Zrt. will specify the technical requirements for data transmission in a future agreement with active users. These specifications may include interfaces provided by the manufacturer or FEAK Zrt. or devices attached to the inverter.
The system must support data transmission at least once per hour, with data segmented into 5-minute intervals. A reliable internet connection (Wi-Fi or 4G) will be required for data transfer. If an inverter cannot support data transmission due to technical limitations, the owner will be exempt from the reporting obligation until the inverter is replaced.
Costs and Deadlines
The Ministry of Energy has confirmed that owners of existing solar systems will only need to provide their inverter’s unique identifier, without incurring additional costs. However, the regulations suggest that owners will need to provide devices capable of transmitting data to the data center, potentially incurring additional costs if they need to install such equipment.
The introduction of the data reporting system is expected to be delayed by about six months, with implementation now projected for summer 2025. Starting July 1, 2025, all new solar installations must be equipped with an inverter capable of data transmission.
Solar owners whose systems are already in place will be required to begin reporting production data starting July 1, 2025.
Preparing for the Changes
Although the regulations are still in the planning stages, solar owners should begin preparing for the changes by ensuring their systems are compatible with the new data reporting requirements. As the government works toward finalizing the legislation, it’s crucial to stay informed and ready for the upcoming implementation.
These regulatory changes mark a significant shift for solar owners in Hungary, aiming to enhance grid stability and energy security. However, the new requirements also introduce technical and financial considerations that homeowners will need to address in the coming months.