Superhot Rock Geothermal in Hungary

The document highlights that just 1% of Hungary's estimated superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 34 GW of energy capacity, generating over 285,013 GWh of electricity. This amount is eight times the country's 2021 electricity consumption and could theoretically replace all coal and gas used for electricity production, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 10 megatonnes. Such a transition would significantly enhance energy security, as Hungary currently imports 63% of its coal, 67% of its natural gas, and 55% of its electricity. Additionally, superhot rock geothermal is noted for its high energy density, requiring only 12 km² of land per 1 GW, compared to much larger footprints for solar, wind, and biomass.

• Preliminary modelling indicates that Hungary possesses significant superhot rock resources; specifically, 1% of this resource could provide 34 GW of energy capacity and generate more than 285,013 GWh of electricity, which is eight times the nation's 2021 electricity consumption.
• Superhot rock geothermal could drastically reduce Hungary's dependence on energy imports, as the country currently imports 67% of its natural gas, 63% of its coal, and 55% of its electricity.
• Superhot rock geothermal is highly land-efficient, requiring approximately 12 km² of land to produce 1 GW, which is significantly less than the land required for natural gas (160 km²), solar (180 km²), offshore wind (520 km²), or biomass (14,000 km²).

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in Hungary. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144807/Hungary-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in Hungary. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144807/Hungary-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in Hungary |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144807/Hungary-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendsuperhot, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal in Hungary}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144807/Hungary-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }