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Reference

UK Wind Speed Database

Before installing a small wind system it is essential to have a good knowledge of wind speed at the site. The Department of Trade and Industry wind speed database contains estimates of the annual mean wind speed throughout the UK. This may give an indication of average wind speed in different parts of the country. However it is very unlikely to give an accurate idea of wind speed at a proposed site for a small wind system, particularly in urban or built up areas -if wind speed at the site is not in the range at which the small wind system capacity is rated, then the system may deliver less electricity than expected.

The data is the result of an air flow model that estimates the effect of topography on wind speed. There is no allowance for the effect of local thermally driven winds such as sea breezes or mountain/valley breezes. The model was applied with 1km square resolution and takes no account of topography on a small scale or local surface roughness (such as tall crops, stone walls, or trees), both of which may have a considerable effect on the wind speed. The data can only be used as a guide and should be followed by on-site measurements for a proper assessment.

Each value stored in the database is the estimated average for a 1km square at either 10m, 25m or 45m above ground level (agl). The database uses the Ordnance Survey grid system for Great Britain and the Northern Irish Orndance Survey grid system for Northern Ireland.

A good alternative to the UK Wind Speed Database is onsite wind measurement. Installers and manufacturers may be able to give advice on how to get an approximate idea of wind speed at a proposed site, which depends on a variety of factors such as local topography and the built environment, or wind speed can be measured onsite. Some anemometry equipment for measuring wind speed is affordable for householders, starting from approximately £100, and can give a good idea of wind speed if it is positioned at the correct height and location of the proposed site, and left in place to measure the wind for several months (preferably a year to capture the difference in seasons). This data can then be analysed to give an approximate average wind speed.

Click here to view a map which can be used to guestimate wind speeds in your area.

Using the database

The UK wind speed database works using a six character Ordnance Survey grid reference. To find this grid reference you can use the following conversion tool, from Streetmap:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?GridConvert

You will need to edit the eight character LR value that's returned:

Eg. The BWEA office postcode is N1 0PW. Typing this into the above converter returns:

LR - TQ315835

This value is made up of three values - two letters, and then two sets of three numbers - TQ 315 835 for the above example. Click here to see the Ordnance Survey guide to the National Grid.

The database uses a six digit grid reference, so you need to drop the third digit from each of the two numbers: this would make the above example TQ 31 83

Click the link below to use the DTI Wind Speed Database:

http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/windspeed-database/page27326.html

Select a region and type in the six character grid reference as described above (with no spaces) and then hit the Find Wind Data button. This should return the wind speeds for the locatiopn you specified.

The DTI also provide a desktop version of the database and ASCII data files which can be imported into a GIS system. Both of these can be downloaded here:

http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/wind/windspeed-database/page27708.html

If you wish to pursue the investigation of a particular site further, then we recommend that you contact either a project developer or consultant on a commercial basis.