UK Wind speed database

Thinking of adding a wind turbine to your home energy generation master plan, then before you buy you would be well advised to check out the average wind speed in your area.

Of course this will only give you an estimation it is best to do some on-site measuring first and take guestimate on the effects of local topography on wind speed, i.e. tall trees buildings etc.

In the same way you need a fields worth of good space to fly a kite and the effect of a tall tree can still have an effect a 100 metres away you can soon work out how badly affected your wind turbine might be. As with most wind things the higher you can be, the better the wind, so if you live on a hill with open space all around it may well be worth the investment.

Of course if you take the view that any energy generated is a bonus and you don't necessarily expect the turbine to pay for itself then you can go ahead and install it anyway with a clear conscious.