The Matra Power Plant in Northern Hungary is an example of a coal power plant transitioning into an industry cluster in which renewables play an increasingly important role. These efforts do not only retain the electricity generation capacity, but keep jobs in the Region.
APPROACH
- Cost efficient site conversion of old coal mines by deploying them for renewable energy production (biomass and solar)
- Retaining the electricity generation capability and employment capacity with reduced coal use
- Establishing an industrial park cluster
ENABLING CONDITIONS
- Availability of tax allowances and feed-in tariff for renewables
- ERDF Funding for companies in Industry cluster
CHALLENGES
- The Region is structurally relatively weak, following the industrial sector’s decline; the unemployment rate is higher and the GDP/Capita is lower than the national average
ACHIEVEMENTS
- With a current solar capacity of 60 MW, and a planned Expansion to reach 200 MW, the Matra Power Plant leads the way for renewables in Hungary
The case of the Matra PP shows that the utilization of renewable energy sources at a coal-mining site can smoothen the transition away from coal: By diversifying resources the energy generation capacity can be maintained and further jobs can be created. Furthermore, utilizing biomass-in partnership with its cluster- and solar energy can offer opportunities for a low-cost utilization of former mining areas and enable a progressive transformation of a fossil fuel fired site into a renewable energy hub.
Interested to learn more about the Matra Power Plant’s Transformation into part of a renewable Energy cluster? Find more Information here.