Wind Speed
The success of a turbine relies on plentiful clean wind. As a minimum an ideal turbine site will have a wind speed in excess of 5.5 metres per second (m/s) at 10 metres above ground level and will have 360° wind
The NOABL wind speed database offers an indication of wind speed for a postcode at 10 metres above ground level. You can establish the wind speed for your area through this website
The reading obtained from the database should be treated with caution. It is a computer simulated average assessed over a square kilometre. Local topography and local thermally driven winds are not taken into account. There are bound to be variations and inaccuracies and any reading must therefore be treated as indicative of the wind speed in the area. We find it useful but it must be used with caution
Whilst your wind speed may be stated to be less than 5.5m/s it may be that your particular location within the square kilometre is higher than the average wind speed. Use of your local knowledge will be important in siting a turbine but an anemometer may give you the comfort required to establish the prudence of using wind as an energy source. Suitable equipment may be purchased from weather station retailers for less than £200
The Power Predictor distributed by Better Generation Ltd has been used by many of our customers. It tests your wind resource and seeks to determine the most suitable turbine available on the market for your site. Wind speed data is downloaded from a memory card to your computer and The Power Predictor website does the analysis for you
Having acquired your anemometer you need to position it to ensure accurate readings are obtained. The challenge is to erect the anemometer on or near the proposed site on something that is at least 10m or better still at the height of the proposed tower (15/18m) where there is no threat of turbulence. Scaffolding or telegraph poles have been used effectively. Gable ends, roofs or silos are not a good idea. Ideally the anemometer should be in place for at least one year however you will generally know whether or not your site is suitable within a few months
