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DOE and NYSERDA Fund SWCC
| SWCC thanks the U.S. Department of Energy, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and other sponsors for financial assistance they have provided to SWCC to assist with the start-up of the small wind turbine certification program.
Click here for a list of all SWCC funders.
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Greetings!
Greetings!
With more turbines receiving SWCC certification and more turbines applying to begin the process, small wind turbine certification is firmly established in the marketplace. With nine wind turbine models certified, SWCC is advancing consumer protection against fraudulent claims and faulty equipment and helping to build the industry's reputation.
As more turbine models are certified, consumers are gaining more confidence in the on-site wind generation. Certification is helping to expand the distributed wind market, and ensuring its growth for the future.
SWCC is introducing new certification programs and working with colleagues around the world to make sure that wind turbine standards are up-to-date.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments about SWCC activities.
Larry SherwoodExecutive Director |
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Two More Models Fully SWCC Certified, Others Reach Milestones
 In June SWCC issued its fifth and sixth full certifications and consumer labels, for the 5.2 kW Kingspan Renewables KW6 and the 5.5 kW Bergey Windpower Excel 6. The Excel 6 is the second Bergey Windpower model fully SWCC certified, joining the 8.9 kW Excel 10.
Together with the three other full certifications - for the 4.7 kW Evance R9000, the 2.5 kW Eveready Diversified Products Kestrel e400nb, and the 2.1 kW Southwest Windpower Skystream 3.7 - along with Limited Power Performance certification for the 5.4 kW Endurance S-343 and Conditional Temporary Certification (CTC) for the Eoltec Scirocco E5.6-6 and the Gaia GW 133 - 11kW, nine wind turbine models now carry SWCC certification.
 Although a few CTC and "Under Contract" listings have expired and a few models are not currently commercially available in the U.S., SWCC's ranks continue to increase with additional certifications and milestones for both small and medium wind turbines expected in the coming months. Final reports are under SWCC commissioner review for the Endurance S-343 and the Evoco 10kW, and six others have either completed testing or are currently collecting data at their testing sites. In addition, three new Notices of Intent to pursue SWCC certification were filed in June: for Pika Energy's T701 and Star Wind Turbines' 36-10 and 52-24 models. Representing a significant share of the North American distributed wind market, SWCC's published certification ratings and labels are allowing easier comparison shopping, aiding incentive programs with setting payment levels, and leading to national requirements. Several other small and medium wind turbine manufacturers are taking steps towards certification, signaling a maturing market. SWCC has received 50 notices of intent to pursue certification since it began accepting applications in 2010. To compare certification ratings and access summary reports, see www.smallwindcertification.org/certified-turbines/ |
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SWCC Medium Wind Policy Adopted
In April, the SWCC adopted and posted its new Wind Turbine Performance Certification Policy for turbines with rotor swept areas greater than 200 square meters; SWCC now offers certification related to wind turbine power performance and acoustic performance. SWCC Wind Turbine Performance Certification represents that performance testing of the turbine conforms with the requirements identified in IEC 61400-12-1 (Power Performance) and IEC 61400-11 (Acoustics). Applicants may choose to pursue Power Performance Certification, Acoustic Performance Certification, or both.
This new Performance Certification program is immediately useful in meeting the new Medium Wind Turbine requirements of the Interstate Turbine Advisory Council (ITAC). ITAC currently defines a Medium Wind Turbine as a wind turbine with a swept area of more than 200 square meters and less than 1,000 square meters.
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Medium Wind Design Standard
SWCC is participating in UK Medium Wind Standards Group, which is leading the effort to develop an international medium wind standard. The project, started approximately three years ago, acknowledged that full type certification to IEC 61400-1 was complex, difficult and not well suited to medium wind turbines.
As a first measure, the group developed the UK Medium Wind Turbine Interim Guidelines outlining a set of criteria for the evaluation of medium wind turbines to ensure that safe wind turbines are brought to the market while maintaining an economical approach. These interim guidelines required full certification of power and acoustics to IEC 61400-12-1 and IEC 61400-11 and a customized approach to verifying the turbine design. While these interim guidelines continue to be reviewed and improved by the medium wind community, a long term solution is also underway.
The UK Medium Wind Standards Group is working directly with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) maintenance team developing the 4th edition of IEC 61400-1, MT01, to create a new Medium Wind Annex. Once the IEC adopts this new edition, medium wind turbine designs should have an acceptable pathway to full type certification according to IEC standards.
In the meantime, the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) and ITAC have developed interim eligibility criteria for medium wind turbines which require certified power and acoustic testing and either a design evaluation per IEC 61400 standards or minimum requirements to describe operational history of a wind turbine model.
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Japanese Certification Body Agreement
SWCC has used its reciprocity agreements with UK certification bodies for the past two years to successfully implement the 'test once, certify everywhere' approach to global wind turbine certification. Since Japan's new small wind turbine standard is similar to the AWEA Standard, SWCC has also developed an agreement with ClassNK in Japan.
With this reciprocity agreement in place, SWCC and ClassNK will share certification information and enable the work performed to certify a turbine by one certification body to be used by the other body for granting their own certification. Each body accepts full responsibility for their own certifications, but this agreement prevents manufacturers from having to duplicate efforts to satisfy the requirements of these global markets.
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Commissioner Perspective Heard at Small Wind Conference
At the June 2013 Small Wind Conference in Wisconsin, SWCC Certification Commissioner Michael Klemen joined Technical Director Brent Summerville in presenting a SWCC update. Klemen explained the role of the three Commissioners who serve as the decision making body for the SWCC.
Each Commissioner has been able to spot different anomalies that need clarification. The experience of the three commissioners differs and is complimentary to each other. Klemen explained that his strength is in reviewing data based on his years of experience in collecting data from small wind turbines in the field. Klemen reviews data and reports with a fine tooth comb and pays particular attention to design specifications, verifying that the measured turbine performance falls within those specs.
Klemen and the other commissions pay close attention to the safety and function test, verifying that certified turbine designs are self-protected and under control.
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SWCC Board Members Offer Extensive Expertise
David Blittersdorf
SWCC Board Treasurer and AllEarth Renewables President/CEO David Blittersdorf brings deep roots in the wind energy industry. He began tinkering with model wind turbines as a teen, and by the time he reached college, he was already leaning toward a career in the wind energy industry. In 1982, he founded NRG Systems, a leading manufacturer of wind measurement technology. With AllEarth Renewables, he is focusing on bringing practical, economically sound on-site renewable energy solutions to homeowners and businesses.
Blittersdorf is also currently Treasurer and a founding member of the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA), and served for 17 years on the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Executive Board, including as Treasurer and President. David has also chaired AWEA's Standards Coordinating Committee, was a founding member of Renewable Energy Vermont, serves on the National Advisor Board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and regularly testifies on energy-related policy issues at the state and federal levels. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont in 1981.
Because the distributed wind industry is relatively young and untapped, he notes, certification is "essential to grow this market and bring this clean energy source into the mainstream."
Roy Butler
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Photo by Robert Miller
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SWCC Board Member Roy Butler draws on more than 17 years of design and installation experience with renewable energy systems. Since he founded Four Winds Renewable Energy in 1997, he has maintained both his home and business off-grid. His experience includes grid-tied and off-grid wind systems, solar electric, and solar water pumping systems. In 2004 he began teaching 40 hour, non-accredited PV and small wind installer workshops and has participated in numerous small wind curriculum development and training projects. He is a certified small wind and PV installer for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) as well as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and has chaired several NABCEP committees. He has served on the Board of DWEA, as a technical editor for Home Power Magazine, and as a Clean Energy Technologies Partner for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. He has been a founding organizer of the Small Wind Conference and was the 2008 recipient of the Wind Installer of the Year Award.
He joined the SWCC Board in 2008 to "promote better quality turbines, realistic energy production estimates and truth in advertising."
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