Attila Steiner, the energy ministry’s state secretary for energy and climate policy, and Bence Gonda, the deputy head of the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities, discussed the application of geothermal energy with Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Iceland’s minister for environmental protection, energy and climate affairs, in Reykjavik. Iceland, a leader in geothermal innovation, “is a remarkable example” for covering household and industry electricity and heating needs entirely with renewable resources and green energy, Steiner said. The Hungarian delegation and Thórdarson were in agreement on the importance of geothermal energy today, noting it was valuable, safe, sustainable and renewable alternative source in the energy mix. The impending completion of Hungary’s National Geothermal Strategy may help Hungary to be the first EU member state to respond to the European Parliament’s opinion issued in January urging the acceleration of investments in the sector, Steiner said.
Hungary will place special emphasis on the topic of geothermal energy during its upcoming EU presidency in the second half of the year, he said, noting that Hungary has long been among the top five countries in Europe when it came to the use of geothermal energy.