Tekla Szép

While total solar PV capacity in Hungary was only 1 MW in 2010, this figure had grown to 7551 MW by 2024 as a result of the favorable settlement system, subsidies, and the uncertainty caused by the Russo-Ukrainian war. At that time, more than 6.4% of households were already prosumers. In our study, we focus on Hungarian districts, examining the spatial patterns of household-scale solar PV systems and the main drivers of technology adoption in 2024. We use the Theil T index to examine spatial heterogeneity and the Moran’s I statistic to test for spatial dependence. Spatial autocorrelation is further explored using maps based on Local Moran’s I and Local Geary statistics. Finally, a spatial error model is applied to identify the factors influencing the share of household-scale solar PV systems per 100 households. Our results show that the spatial error variable has the largest effect, with household education, the age and size of the building stock, population growth, and built-up area also having significant effects. This confirms the need for a spatially sensitive policy approach and for incorporating space and spatial relations in energy economic studies.

While total solar PV capacity in Hungary was only 1 MW in 2010, this figure has grown to 7,551 MW by 2024 as a result of the favorable settlement system, available subsidies, and uncertainty caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war. More than 6.4% of households are already prosumers. In our study, we focus on Hungarian districts, examining the spatial patterns of household-scale solar PV systems and the main drivers of technology adoption in 2024. We use the Theil T index to examine spatial heterogeneity and the Moran’s I statistic to test for spatial dependence. Spatial autocorrelation is further explored using maps based on the Local Moran’s I and Local Geary statistics. Finally, a spatial error model is applied to identify the factors influencing the share of household-scale solar PV systems per 100 households. Our results show that the spatial error variable has the largest effect, complemented by household education, the age and size of the building stock, population growth, and the built-up area. It confirms the need for a spatially sensitive policy approach and the importance of space and spatial relations in energy economic studies.

This study reviews the development of energy citizenship and democracy in Africa. Utilizing the PRISMA approach, 441 records were identified and finally twenty-seven studies were the subject of a comprehensive literature review. Household renewable energy consumption, energy communities, energy transition movements, and energy policy are the four main categories determined by the investigation. Empirical findings indicate that decentralized systems greatly increase access to power in rural and off-grid areas, particularly in East and Sub-Saharan Africa. However, such systems are hindered by low local capacity, a shortage of spare parts, costly initial expenses and unsuitable designs. Energy communities function as solutions driven by citizens, and inclusive energy policies could boost legitimacy and facilitate Africa's shift to renewable energy.

This study aims to reveal the role of solar PV systems in the participatory energy transition, examine these technologies' contribution to the establishment of energy citizenship, and provide a case study. A systematic literature review of 59 studies based on the PRISMA method is described. It can be stated that household-scale solar systems represent the practical implementation of these theories. In many cases, prosumers can effectively represent their interests and influence policy and decision-making through active citizen participation. In Hungary, a striking example is the successful defense by households with solar PV systems of pre-existing contracts involving a net metering system in August and September 2023. The timeline of this is revealed and presented using discourse analysis. The case study shows that when the number of prosumers reaches a critical mass, they can influence decisionmaking even under a competitive authoritarian system.

Az energiaátmenet megvalósítása során kiemelt figyelmet kell fordítani a szénrégiókra. Tanulmányomban az Észak-magyarországi régió példáján keresztül mutatom be a fenntartható energetikai átmenet megvalósításának legfontosabb kihívásait, amelyek elsősorban a lakossági épületek alacsony energiahatékonyságból, a jelentős energiaszegénységből, intenzív lignitfelhasználásból és légszennyezésből adódnak. Azonosítom azokat a településeket, ahol a háztartások különösen ki vannak téve az energiaszegénység kockázatának és szakpolitikai javaslatokat fogalmazok meg ezen települések támogatására.