The overall objective of the project is to implement an innovative pilot project in the Mórahalom Municipality, which will serve as a consumer-friendly, security of supply, environmentally and financially sustainable supply model for the development of Hungarian municipalities with 5-10 thousand inhabitants by replacing the natural gas-based energy supply with locally available renewable (geothermal and photovoltaic) sources.

In addition to REKK, three partners participated in the research and implementation: the Municipality of Mórahalom, Innogeo Kft. and the Association of Hungarian District Heating Enterprises.

The aim of the research carried out by REKK is to examine and promote the adaptability of the heat production and community energy supply model based on renewable energy with natural gas replacement and greenhouse gas emission reduction, implemented in the framework of the Mórahalom geothermal pilot project, to other settlements with similar conditions.

Two main tasks were carried out:

(i) a potential assessment has been carried out to assess the potential for renewable district heating and community heating in the municipalities concerned;

(ii) a regulatory study identifying the range of legal and regulatory provisions and regulations that hinder the implementation of similar projects, or the lack of regulatory instruments to support them, and a package of proposals to remove the obstacles to their implementation.

The results and main messages of the project were summarised in a Policy Brief.