Wind turbine type certification confirms that the wind turbine is designed, documented and manufactured to comply with the design specifications, specific standards and other technical requirements in order to overcome technical, financial and environmental risks. Recent consolidation in the industry has reduced the number of organisations offering turbine-type certification services.
The Lloyd’s Register Type Certification process is carried out in accordance with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IEC 61400-22 which is an internationally recognised standard and a mandatory requirement in some regions. It sets out the key requirements for assessment of wind turbine design, manufacturing and testing. The certification and testing of wind turbines is essential to provide confidence, trust and continuity to all entities involved in wind energy projects, from the wind park operators and banks, through to government and agencies involved in the sector.
“Success in the wind energy industry requires multi-disciplinary competences to understand the wind resource; choose appropriate technology; and design, install, and operate robust projects” said Ross Wigg, VP Renewables at Lloyd’s Register Energy. “With the certification landscape changing, we have launched this new certification service to address a growing need in the market for independent provision of type certification for onshore and offshore wind turbines.”
Mr Wigg added that clients in Europe, America and Asia could benefit from a fresh, more intuitive, approach while retaining the technical excellence offered by Lloyd’s Register Energy as an acknowledged independent global certification and classification company.
Lloyd’s Register Energy has also has launched a pre-certification ‘SMART Audit’ module specifically designed to plan for innovation challenges in future technology advances. The company’s experts conduct a full audit of a client’s early stage design, management systems and resource so they can make adjustments where necessary. A pre-certification audit is then put in place to plan for likely technical or innovation challenges which can be worked through in advance and minimising delays further down the line.
“We are providing the global wind sector with a different service offering to what is presently available” Mr Wigg said. “This includes training seminars to help clients understand the standards available, the certification process, how to prepare and how to avoid the typical stumbling blocks.”
The new service will support the end-users of turbines, typically developers, who require that the technologies they use are effective, robust and safe. It is based on core engineering principles and structured in a way that supports innovation where there is a clear case for thinking differently.
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