SGS Conducts QHSE for the Belwind Bligh Bank Offshore Wind Farm in Belgium

SGS received a wind power contract to conduct Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental (QHSE) Management for the Belwind Bligh Bank Offshore Wind Farm in Belgium in July 2009. The key objective of QHSE Management is to optimize the revenue generated by any wind farm project over its life span, by assuring high quality standards and safe project execution during the development and realization phase.

As offshore wind farms involve many risks and challenges due to a variety of climactic factors owners, investors, operators and insurance companies look for an independent third party company, which can optimize the generated revenue by conducting Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental Management.

Due to SGS’ specialized competency and quality experts, the owner of Belwind Bligh Bank Offshore Wind Farm in Belgium assigned SGS Renewables a contract to conduct QHSE Management during the development and realization phase of the wind farm project.

The development of the project is split in two phases. The first phase of the wind farm, which began in July 2009, comprises of 55 wind turbines and has a production capacity of 165 MW. Upon completion, the Belwind Bligh Bank Offshore Wind Farm is expected to have a production capacity of 330 MW and an estimated annual output of 1.1 TWh.

SGS is responsible for the planning and conducting Quality as well as Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Management during the development and realization phase, which includes manufacturing, construction and commissioning of the Belwind Bligh Bank Offshore Wind Farm Project.

SGS optimizes the revenue of the wind farm by assuring high quality standards and a safe project execution during the realization phase, including supply, construction and commissioning of wind turbines, sub-structures as well as the electrical systems.

To ensure that all QHSE insufficiencies and other abnormalities are identified and documented, SGS established a flexible and practical QHSE Management system for the Belwind wind energy project including tools and procedures as a means to support the effective QHSE organization for the wind farm project. The SGS team manages and monitors all QHSE activities in the project and reports to the project management and shareholders.

The owner of the Belwind Bligh Bank Offshore Wind Farm Project is very pleased with SGS’s excellent performance, and its extensive experience, professionalism and know-how. SGS provides QHSE Management activities during the design, manufacturing and installation phases of the wind farm project and is likely to continue the cooperation with Belwind during next phases of the project’s development.

The reliability of structures and wind turbines is essential for wind farms to perform successfully. SGS Industrial Services provides independent inspection and certification to improve dependency of wind energy projects and secure quality and certainty throughout the intended life span. SGS ensures the structural reliability, safe operation and accessibility of the wind turbines.

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With more than 56,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

www.sgs.com/wind