The use of photovoltaic micro-installations in selected regional cities in Poland

The aim of the paper is to assess the use of RES, i.e. solar energy (through investment in PV installations) in selected regional cities in Poland. We focused on the area of five regional capital cities, selected in terms of representativeness and fulfilling regional administrative or administrative and self-governmental functions. The research hypothesis is that installations are mainly mounted on new buildings, while income is a factor that determines the choice of PV. The methodological part features an analysis of the literature in the selected area. This was followed by an analysis of the statistical data available in the public statistics (Statistics Poland's data) and on the basis of primary data collected from the main electricity distributors (Tauron Dystrybucja S.A. and ENEA). The data for the analysis comes from before the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as these were characterised by a relative stabilisation of electricity prices and consumption in Poland. A correlation analysis based on the Pearson coefficient was carried out to investigate a possible relationship between the number of micro-installations in the cities reviewed and the other variables. An econometric model was built to analyse the variables studied, which have a significant impact on the number of PV micro-installations in the urban areas studied. The article fills a gap in the literature concerning the identification of conditions responsible for location preferences for renewable energy in the existing settlement patterns of fast-growing cities, dispersed in external zones, as well as in the urbanising rural environment. Research on prosumer energy in these areas is completely new.  An in-depth analysis of the behaviour of prosumers and their preferences regarding photovoltaic installations may be the basis for optimising the economic instruments used in Poland to encourage investment in renewable energy sources.