In the years 2021-2023, Poland and Europe experienced unprecedented increases in energy prices in the last dozen or so years, leading to shifts in the economic perception of renewable energy sources. PV installations have achieved a simple payback time (SPBT) of less than 10 years, also prompting a consideration installation solar thermal collectors. The study analyzed selected micro-scale renewable energy installations (photovoltaic, wind turbine, solar thermal collector) and estimated simple payback times for individual potential investments in these installations. The analyses revealed that PV installations currently have the shortest payback time, but this trend might evolve in the future due to the lowest daily energy prices coinciding with the highest energy production values from PV installations. In the years 2016-2023, the lowest SPBT value was attained for photovoltaics. However, in 2022, a similar SPBT value was achieved for solar thermal installations, replacing natural gas sources. PV and solar thermal technologies are also viable for micro-installations, with lower associated risks related to productivity, such as specific yields influenced by geographical and weather conditions, as well as terrain and landscape features, especially for small turbine turbines.