Each partner organization will receive funding, training, and technical support for the testing of two small wind turbines.
The organizations selected are: Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc., in New York; Kansas State University; The Alternative Energy Institute at West Texas A&M University; and Windward Engineering, LLC, in Utah.
The goal of the Regional Test Center project is to support the U.S. small wind power market by increasing the number of organizations qualified to conduct small wind turbine standards testing and to lower the costs of testing.
Test results are used by certification bodies, such as the Small Wind Certification Council, to certify small wind turbines for durability and performance.
Certification testing allows small wind turbine buyers to make informed choices and provides states with small wind energy incentive programs data they can use to determine turbine eligibility.
The test center awards are also part of an ongoing effort by DOE and NREL to support the growth of the U.S. small wind turbine market and enable U.S. manufacturers to sell their small wind turbine products abroad. (U.S. manufacturers have been very competitive in the international market, producing roughly two-thirds of of the small wind turbines sold worldwide.)
Testing is scheduled to begin later this year. Each round of testing will last approximately 12 to 18 months.
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Regional Test Centers Project Expands U.S. Small Wind Certification Testing Capability
Organizations in Kansas, New York, Texas, and Utah to receive support to conduct small wind turbine tests
On Feb. 9, 2010, The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and DOE’s Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program announced the selection of four partners to establish small wind Regional Test Centers (RTCs) to conduct tests on small wind turbines to meet national and international standards. These awards provide funding, training, and technical support for each Regional Test Center to conduct testing of two small wind turbines to support the burgeoning U.S. small wind turbine market.
Award recipients are Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. in New York, Kansas State University, The Alternative Energy Institute at West Texas A&M University, and Windward Engineering, LLC in Utah.
The Regional Test Center project goal is to support the U.S. small wind market by increasing the number of organizations qualified to conduct small wind turbine standards testing and to drive down the cost of this testing. Test Results are used by certification bodies, such as the Small Wind Certification Council, to certify small wind turbines for durability and performance.
Certification testing allows small wind turbine buyers to make informed choices and provides states with the data needed to determine turbine eligibility for incentive programs. These Regional Test Center awards are provided by DOE and NREL in a continuing effort to support the growth of the U.S. small wind turbine market and enable U.S. manufacturers to sell their small wind turbine products abroad.
Using DOE funding, NREL issued a request for proposals on Oct. 16, 2009 to establish regional test centers. Submissions were received until the Dec. 8, 2009, closing date. Testing is scheduled to begin later in 2010 and will last approximately 12 to 18 months.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
The Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) is an independent certification body and certifies that small wind turbines meet or exceed the requirements of the AWEA Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard.
This certification provides a common North American standard for reporting turbine energy and sound performance, and helps small wind technology gain mainstream acceptance.
www.smallwindcertification.org/
By Ron Stimmel, www.awea.org/blog/
