Written question asked by Lord Bruce of Bennachie (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 4 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Answer to the honourable Member for Harrow West of 17th October 2002 at 390 c891W, what criteria are being used in the development of the United Kingdom wind speed database. - Includes figures and ref to UK windspeed database at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewablewindspeed/online.html.

Answer: Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) of 17 October 2002, Official Report, c. 891W, what criteria are being used in the development of the United Kingdom wind speed database. [80063] Mr. Wilson: The UK windspeed database has now been made available on the DTI website at: http:// www.dti.gov.uk/renewable/windspeed/online.html. The data is the result of an air flow model that estimates the effect of topography on wind speed. Each value stored in the database is the estimated average windspeed for a 1 km square at 10m, 25m and 45m above ground level. The database does not take account of local thermally driven winds, topography on a small scale or local surface roughness. The data is intended as a guide to be followed by on-site measurements. The database uses the Ordnance Survey grid system for Great Britain and the grid system of the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

Secondary information