Speaking in Kardoskút, in southern Hungary, Lantos said the plant was the first rung on the ladder of Hungary’s hydrogen industry and a further step towards reducing its energy dependence, with the possibility of storing renewable energy.

A 2.5 megawatt electrolysis system and hydrogen gas preparation technology will operate at the Kardoskút underground gas storage facility, Kriston Ákos, chief executive of Magyar Földgáztároló, said.

Excess current generated by renewable energy sources such as solar can be stored in the hundreds of megawatts in the form of hydrogen for a period of several months, and can be returned to the grid as needed, he said.

The R&D project cost 5.6 billion forints (EUR 15m), and the state provided support of 2.5 billion.

MTI Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák