Summary:

The energy transformation of the country requires an increase in the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the energy generation structure. This particularly applies to increasing the share of wind energy, which already serves as a leader in electricity production from RES. The development of this renewable energy sector is inevitable, despite social and legal barriers. Existing cartographic studies indicate areas that are predisposed and unsuitable for locating wind farms at the county level. It is important to identify potential areas at the local level, taking into account not only spatial criteria, but also those related to functional characteristics, such as rural areas. This paper presents an original method for identifying potential locations for wind farms in rural areas, tested using the example of the Borowa Commune (Podkarpackie Voivodeship). Analyses were conducted for three height variants of wind turbines (up to 30m, up to 50m, up to 70m). In Variant 1 (wind turbines up to 30m), 17 locations were identified (19% of the commune surface), in Variant 2, 7 areas were indicated (9% of the commune surface), and in Variant 3, 3 locations were identified (5% of the commune surface). The highest installed power can be achieved in Variant 3 (wind turbines up to 70m), despite the fact that the available space is the smallest.