SW wind resource assessment

Regen SW employed Wardell Armstrong to undertake an assessment of the potential wind resource in the south west.  Download the methodology report below for further details.

Large-scale wind resource assessment

The assessment estimates the potential for deploying large-scale (2.5 MW) turbines, using the following constraints:

• Wind speed
• Removing roads and rivers
• Active airports
• MOD training areas
• Buffers around strategic roads, railways, settlements, airports and rivers
• Environment designations
• National Parks, AONBs and Heritage Coast
• A percentage reduction based on the MODs air defence radar (to be confirmed)
• 600m buffer from individual addresses

Full details of these constraints will be included in a methodology report - available to download soon. 

The map that is downloadable below gives the potential for large-scale wind power once these constraints have been applied. 

Local assessments will further restrict the wind resource. For example, the following considerations could be added:

• MoD and civil radar
• Visual impact outside of landscape designations
• Setting - proximity to scheduled monuments and listed buildings

In addition, site specific constraints will further restrict the availability and suitability of sites, such as:

• Access
• Grid connection
• Effects of shadow flicker on local receptors

Available large-scale resource

In total, the resource assessment found that the potential for wind in the south west is for a maximum of 3046 x 2.5 MW turbines, which would give an installed capacity of 7615 MW and generate up to 68 per cent of the south west's electricity demand.

Small-scale wind resource assessment

A small-scale wind resource assessment was also undertaken, following the DECC methodology for Renewable and Low-Carbon Energy Capacity.  This assesses the potential for 6 kW turbines based on the number of buildings in areas with windspeeds over 4.5 m/s at 10m above ground level with some reductions for urban and sub-urban areas. 

This resource assessment estimates that there is the potential for over 368,000 x 6 kW turbines, with the potential to generate 17 per cent of the south west's electrical demand.  However, this significantly overestimates the potential for small-scale wind and needs to be further constrained locally to reflect the realistic potential.

Accessing the GIS data

Local authorities wishing to obtain the GIS layers for their own use will need to produce signed confirmation that they hold appropriate licenses . Local authorities will need to pay an administrative charge of £550 to receive the data in their preferred format. This will entitle the user to the transfer of all available data layers from the south west heat map and resource assessments.

For more information please click here to email Josie Ashe.