Installation of Solar Panels in Car Parks to Be Rationalized

In a further step towards greener industry and a greener economy, the Hungarian government would rationalize the installation of solar panels in parking lots, the Ministry of Economic Development (GFM) told MTI on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the Ministry will launch a public consultation on the installation of solar panels in parking lots, which will help the green transition, further strengthen the competitiveness of businesses and contribute to protecting jobs and restoring economic growth, while strictly adhering to the forestry requirements.

It is explained that the current legislation requires the planting of one tree for every six for the construction of a parking lot for spaces for ten or more vehicles, in order to provide shade for the parking areas.

They added that this regulation, according to indications from the industry, hinders the efficient installation of solar panels and discourages the greening of industry and the economy. Thus, GFM has developed a proposal to keep the green expectations and aspects of forestry green.

In order to further strengthen Hungary's energy sovereignty and increase renewable energy production, the GFM proposal would facilitate the installation of solar panels in parking lots in the case of economic-industrial-commercial areas, with the strict and clear condition that environmental and forestry requirements must not be compromised, the ministry stressed.

It was explained that under the proposed amendment, the afforestation of parking spaces, if solar energy installations are to be installed, could be carried out in such a way that it does not adversely affect the operation and efficiency of the energy installations. The number of trees to be planted and the number of trees to be required will remain unchanged, as in areas classified as economic-industrial-commercial, the afforestation of parking spaces may be replaced by the installation of solar energy installations only if the owner of the property simultaneously fulfils his obligation to plant trees within the area by means of protective afforestation or by afforestation in a designated area, provided that the number of deciduous trees planted is not less than one-sixth of the total number of parking spaces.

It has been indicated that in practice it is therefore possible to meet the legal requirements by replanting existing trees and by appropriate tree planting when creating a new car park. In areas not classified as economic-industrial-commercial, the floor area of solar energy installations may not exceed 30% of the area of parking areas.