How OnyX is Solving the Feasibility Study Challenge in Renewable Energy

The Challenge: Expensive, Slow, and Inconsistent

The renewable energy sector is growing rapidly, but developers face persistent challenges when it comes to evaluating project feasibility. Traditional feasibility studies are expensive—often requiring engagement with multiple consultants, costing $20,000 to $40,000 per site—and can take months to complete. Worse yet, the quality of these reports varies widely, leading to delays and uncertainty in decision-making.

The Solution: AI-Powered Feasibility at Scale

OnyX, an AI-powered platform co-founded by Ryan (Di) Zhou and Yan Zhaojie, aims to change that. The duo brings a wealth of experience across analytics, energy networks, and renewable project development, making them uniquely positioned to tackle this industry-wide problem.

"We founded OnyX because we knew there was a better way," explains Ryan Zhou, an entrepreneur with extensive experience in analytics and corporate strategy. "The energy transition can't afford inefficiencies. Developers need reliable, high-quality insights quickly, and OnyX delivers just that."

How OnyX Works

OnyX combines advanced geospatial analytics and machine learning to create instant feasibility reports. Using a centralized data warehouse that integrates over 50 GIS data layers, the platform evaluates risks such as:

• Zoning restrictions and land use regulations
• Vegetation impacts and environmental constraints
• Grid connection challenges and infrastructure availability
• Site-specific risk factors unique to each location

Real-World Impact: Saving Time and Millions

The co-founder, Yan Zhaojie, brings deep insights from his years of experience developing renewable energy projects. Having managed over 50 projects in Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM), Yan understands the unique needs of developers. "Feasibility assessments have always been a bottleneck in the development cycle, and often lack of investigation can cost development companies millions, or even lead to the project fail," he notes. "With OnyX, we're not just saving time and costs; we're empowering developers with consistent, data-driven insights that make developers understand the project risks they will be dealing with."

Industry Validation and Growth

Since launching its MVP in mid-2025, OnyX has validated its solution with industry leaders such as Jinko Power and Astronergy. The team has also partnered with a boutique consulting firm to refine the platform and incorporate user feedback. "Collaboration has been key to our growth," says Ryan Zhou. "By engaging directly with developers and partners, we've ensured that OnyX meets their most pressing needs."

Accelerating the Energy Transition

Yan Zhaojie emphasizes the platform's long-term potential: "By reducing costs and enabling smaller players to enter the market, we're not just helping individual developers—we're accelerating the entire energy transition."

OnyX is redefining how renewable energy projects are evaluated, addressing critical challenges of cost, time, and quality. With its innovative approach and visionary leadership, the platform is paving the way for smarter, faster, and more sustainable energy development.