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To help answer this question, a new online service has been developed by the Met Office and the Carbon Trust which will allow you to discover the potential for small-scale wind power generation at specific locations.

By simply entering a postcode, users can choose the relevant type of building and local environment to understand the total power yield of installing a small wind turbine.

The effectiveness of wind generation has been calculated by using historical Met Office climate data, local land use and large scale orography of the land.

If 10% of the population installed turbines, a saving of 0.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is possible, generating 1.5 TWh of green electricity.

However, it is possible that some urban sites will not pay back the carbon embedded in manufacturing, production and installation of the turbine, and this new tool will help people evaluate the potential benefits of using local wind generation.

The carbon prize for rural sites is about four times that of urban due to higher wind speed conditions. This is because of the increased frictional effect caused by buildings and other urban structures.

Cathy Durston, Head of Met Office Consulting said:
"By using our historical climate data, people will be able to asses the potential to place a small wind turbine at their location.

"Applying scientific expertise from the Met Office has provided the Carbon Trust with a new way of serving businesses and the public with specific wind data for their property."

Mark Williamson, Director at the Carbon Trust added:
"In the right location small-scale wind turbines can provide both cost and carbon savings, but anyone considering installing a turbine should use the Carbon Trust wind estimator to check before proceeding with actual onsite wind monitoring. There has been some confusion around the true performance of small wind turbines but this online tool should help to clear that up."

The launch of the new web feature comes as scientists from around the world gather in Copenhagen, for the conference 'Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions.

The Met Office will be presenting work at the conference which has investigated climate model information and how it can be used by the wind energy industry. This includes how climate change may impact upon wind power generation within the UK and across Europe.

Using the site
To use the website you need to register with the Carbon Trust website.  You will also need to know information about the turbine rotor height, and the turbine's power curve data - which you can get from your turbine supplier.