Nagypáli is a village in Zala County, Hungary with 378 inhabitants in 2008. It has natural resources well-suited for renewable energy production, including forests, strong sunshine, and geothermal potential. The village has begun developing these resources through existing solar installations, a pellet heating system, and plans to build a biomass power plant. Civic groups in Nagypáli work to educate residents about renewable energy and environmental protection.

1. Case study RURENER
Profile of NAGYPÁLI
Geographical position
Situation: Zala County, between the Kemeneshát and the Middle-Zala Hill, North side of
Zala River.
Area: 6,28 km2
Population: 430 inhabitants
Population density: 59,6 hab/km²
The closest biggest city: Zalaegerszeg (8 km, 61 774 inhabitants in Jan. 2009)
Land Use:
Nagypáli can be found in an idyllic natural area, there are forests, nice fields and lovely hills
around it. It’s an ideal place for relax and hiking. The community is connected to the
electricity and gas network.
Natural resources for energy
• strong resources in wood and forest
• strong sunshine
• strong geothermic energy resources
There are many technologies based on renewable energies in the area. Solar system became
popular and the biomass usage is good for village heating ideas.
Inhabitants and activities:
• 378 inhabitants in 2008, 165 households
• Most of the inhabitants work in Zalaegerszeg (8 km). Unemployment rate was 2% in
2008
• The traditional economical activities of the inhabitants are connected with agriculture
(apples, grapes growing).
• There is one shop and no schools and no kindergarten in the village, the closest school
is a few km far within the joint community.
Nagypáli is currently developing a new modern housing estate with 95 new sites. This will
help to support a younger population and create the opportunity to double the number of
inhabitants within a few years.
The village has an active civil society with many groups engaging in cultural and social
activities that enrich community life for residents.

2. Legal framework and public policies
The municipality started an economy developing program. This program has an important
part like the renewable energy sources and its usage. There are agricultural plans regarding
realization of an energy plant near Nagypáli with the partnership of the University of
Keszthely, which can demonstrate how to grow the energy forest.
The municipality organises regularly conferences, exhibitions, forums in the Innovation
Ecocentre for renewable energy sources with the title: Ecotourism and Eco-economic tourism
conference, exhibition. There were performed presentations by well known energetic
specialists in the theme and agricultural companies, families, factories and national parks
exhibited all part of the region and gave information for all members and visitors about the
possibilities and their services. The visitors could see the special machines working, and
could sit around round table with the specialists. Nagypáli is very fond of the theme of
renewable energy utilization and raising awareness. The main goal of the municipality is to
inform inhabitants about the environment protection and the renewable energies. Thanks for
that program many new built houses are working with solar technology in the new housing
estate.
Renewable Energy Sources
Existing detailed plans for a biomass power station, Innovation Ecocentre for renewable
energy sources with working solar system, pellet heating system, geothermal system for
heating and cooling, wind rotor, to propagate RES technologies. Activities of the Ecocentre
are: organization of how-to training, conferences, development of a best-practice book about
renewable energy projects, creation of a regional energy concept and development plan.
Plans to the future: to build a biomass and biogas power station, that will create an
independent energy supply. Six companies are ready to manage the RES business activities in
the village. One of them is going to establish a pellet making plant and energy plantation on
600 ha area.
Rational Use of Energy
• Solar collectors surface in the area of municipality: 305,6 m2
• Total efficiency: 641,4 kW/year
• Photovoltaic cells in the area of municipality: 6,5 m2
• Total efficiency: 0,825 kW/year
Realized heating reconstruction of the municipality buildings (the community house, the shop
and the health centre).This new heating system consists of a solar technology and a wood gas
heating system, called ATMOS. This technology is really cost and energy efficient.
Plans to the future: Climatisation system using solar system. Organization of conferences,
exhibitions, forums in the Innovation Ecocentre for renewable energy resources

4. STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
- RES potential (solar energy, - lack of financial support
biomass) - Insufficient infrastructure for
- High value of natural heritage, RES use
favouring the development of clean - No feed-in-law for thermal
energies applications
- Research & Development in RES - Energy efficiency in buildings in
issues not an obligation yet
- Existence of energy market - Absence of TOR for the
- Existence of Energy management construction of the building
Agency (Innovation Ecocentre) - Low public awareness
- Existing working solar system, - Low sensitiveness to energy
pellet heating system, geothermal saving
system for heating and cooling,
wind rotor, to propagate RES
technologies
- Acquaintance in RES policy and
opportunities
- Prompt mayor
- Active participating in getting
funds
- Existing data regarding RES
consumption
- Existing energy strategy
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
- Funds to invest in clean - Bureaucracy
technologies - Excessive dependency on fossil
- Secured tariff for RES electricity fuels
- Private investors - Unwillingness to changes
- Country commitments - Lack of capacity and resources at
- Subsidies – incentives regional and local level
- Liberalization of electricity market - Reactions and suspicious to RES
- Suitable climate for bioclimatic applications
applications
- Existence of areas suitable of taking
measures