A new study to review the economically viable wind resource across the West Midlands region and key wind development constraints based on the current status of wind technology has been published.

The Updated Study of Wind Resources for the West Midlands Region assists in the initial screening of coarse areas with potential for wind development in the region.

The study was carried out by Halcrow and was commissioned by Advantage West Midlands. It consists of a desktop assessment based on the updated GIS mapping tool initially designed for Government Office for the West Midlands.

Background to the study

As a follow up from the Renewable Energy Resources Study for the Government Office for the West Midlands, in 2003 the Halcrow Group developed a GIS mapping tool.

The tool compiled all the key constraints for wind development in the whole of the West Midlands region. The tool aimed to assess the potential for wind development in the region and the findings from the assessment informed the Regional Energy Strategy (PDF, 418kb).

The Updated Study of Wind Resources covered over 800 sites from which a limited number of potential development sites were selected from the initial screening process based on a number of GIS queries. Nine sites were further analysed to estimate the costs and benefits of development.

The GIS mapping tool was partially updated for this new study, including further and updated data sets where appropriate.

The report (PDF, 576KB) outlines the methodology followed in the assessment and presents the reults of the high level wind resource screening for the entire West Midlands region as well as for the following sub-regional areas:

Birmingham Metropolitan
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent
Telford & Wrekin
Warwickshire
Worcestershire

These divisions were chosen to aid discussion at a local level.

Sample information

Below are some of the maps and charts from the report to give you an indication of what's available in the full version.

Site prioritisation based on further environmental considerations (click map to view at full size with legend)

Bar chart of level 3 prioritised practical resource potential West Midlands
Fig 4.6 Level 3 - Prioritised practical resource for the West Midlands (% of high level practical resource)

Bar chart comparing wind resource potential as a percentage of area in the West Midlands
Fig 4.7 Wind resource potential (%) for the West Midlands

Bar chart comparing wind resource potential for the West Midlands in hectares
Fig 4.8 Comparison of wind resource potential (area) for the West Midlands