Crown Estate releases UK wind speed data

UK: The Crown Estate has added wind speed data to its online portal to help reduce future project development costs.

Data from the Hornsea met mast is pending release

Data from seven met masts located around the UK has been added to the Crown Estate's Marine Data Exchange. The information covers a period from 2002-13.

Met masts at the Gunfleet Sands, London Array and Race Bank offshore projects have been included in the data.

Statistics from the Burbo Bank and Walney floating lidars are pending release. Information from Dogger Bank, Hornsea and the cancelled Celtic Array masts are also awaiting permission to be published.

Crown Estate energy asset portfolio manager Ian Pritchard said: "Analysis of this data will help grow wider understanding of this natural resource to inform decision making and reduce future development costs."

The Marine Data Exchange offers access to more than a terabyte of data. Information available includes visual and landscape assessments, bird and mammal population studies, habitat characterisations and archaeological studies.

In September, the Crown Estate from the abandoned Atlantic Array project to the exchange. Figures included marine and avian wildlife surveys, onshore substation studies and noise monitoring studies.

Developer RWE killed off its involvement in the 1.2GW in November 2013. The project was located in the Bristol Channel, western England. RWE had spent five years and an estimated £13 million (€15.6 million) on the project.