Our Methodology

Feasibility is not a single calculation. It is a layered set of questions that cover physical resources, engineering design, economic viability, regulatory compliance, and organisational capacity. Our methodology addresses each layer in sequence, because each one constrains the next.

A site with excellent wind resources is not viable if the grid connection cost makes the economics unworkable. A technically sound solar design is not useful to a community that has not resolved how shared ownership will be governed. We structure content to reflect these dependencies.

The Framework

Five layers of feasibility

1

Resource Assessment

Before any technology decision, the physical resource needs to be characterised. Wind speed distribution at the proposed hub height. Solar irradiation on the proposed orientation and tilt. Biomass availability within an economically sensible supply radius. We explain the data sources, the assessment tools, and the limitations of each approach.

ERA5 wind data PVGIS solar calculator Biomass supply mapping

2

Technical Design

With resource data in hand, the engineering design can be scoped. System sizing, component selection, layout optimisation, and performance modelling. We explain how professionals approach each of these steps and what the key decision points are, so communities can evaluate proposals critically rather than accepting them on trust.

System sizing methods Performance modelling Component selection criteria

3

Economic Analysis

Levelized cost of energy, simple payback period, net present value, and internal rate of return are the standard metrics for evaluating energy project economics. We explain what each metric measures, what its limitations are, and how to interpret results for a community-owned project where the financial objectives may differ from a commercial developer's.

LCOE calculation NPV and IRR Sensitivity analysis

4

Regulatory Mapping

Every project exists within a regulatory environment. Planning permissions, grid connection procedures, prosumer regulations, energy community frameworks, environmental impact requirements. The Polish and EU regulatory landscape for small-scale community energy has changed significantly in recent years and continues to evolve. We track these changes and explain their practical implications.

Polish energy law EU RED III provisions Grid connection rules

5

Governance Design

Who owns the system, who operates it, who decides how revenue is used, and who bears the risk if something goes wrong. These questions need answers before a community can commit to a project. We explain the main cooperative and community energy legal structures available in Poland and how they map onto different technology and scale combinations.

Cooperative law basics Energy community structures Member liability models

Data Sources

We explain the tools communities can use

A number of freely available tools and datasets allow communities to conduct preliminary assessments without commissioning paid studies. PVGIS, the EU's photovoltaic geographical information system, provides solar yield estimates for any European location. The Global Wind Atlas offers wind resource data at various heights. ENSPRESO and similar databases cover biomass potential by region.

These tools have limitations. They use modelled rather than measured data. They do not capture local terrain effects, micro-climate variations, or site-specific obstacles. But they are appropriate for the preliminary screening stage that determines whether a site is worth investing in formal assessment.

We explain how to use these tools, how to interpret their outputs, and when a community has gathered enough preliminary data to justify commissioning professional assessment work.

Analyst reviewing renewable energy data charts on dual monitors in office

Content Standards

How we verify what we publish

Primary sources

Technical claims are grounded in engineering literature, manufacturer documentation, regulatory texts, and peer-reviewed research. We reference these sources rather than secondary summaries.

Regular updates

Regulatory and technology landscapes change. Content is reviewed and updated to reflect changes in Polish energy law, EU directives, and technology cost and performance data.

Honest about uncertainty

Where data is uncertain, contested, or highly site-dependent, we say so. We do not smooth over technical uncertainty to make content appear more definitive than it is.

Practical examples

Abstract concepts are illustrated with worked examples using realistic parameters for small-scale Polish community projects, making the methodology applicable rather than theoretical.