Possibilities of Satisfying the Energy Needs of Rural Community Residents with Renewable Energy Sources – the Case of Poland

Abstract The historical, economic and legal conditions of the Polish energy supply system differ from other European countries. The share of renewable energy sources in the overall energy balance is still limited. The main purpose of this study is to investigate whether it is possible to meet the energy needs of the basic unit of the territorial organization in Poland, i.e. a commune, exclusively from renewable sources. The main emphasis was put on the methods of estimating the demand of the inhabitants of a commune for energy and the possibility of producing it in an alternative way. The presented considerations could be used as a support for decision makers on the regional and local level in Poland and other European countries, who face the same challenges in energy supply.