A company that conducts product safety testing and certification says it will begin offering testing and certification of wind turbines in accordance with a new UL safety standard. The new service of Underwriters Laboratories, offered in partnership with Germanischer Lloyd (GL), a leading wind energy equipment certification organization, will provide wind-turbine manufacturers around the world with safety compliance both U.S. and IEC requirements. This service, says UL, will let clients accelerate access to the global market.
UL’s evaluation and support is said to cover the entire wind turbine, including components and assemblies, and qualify products to carry the UL Classified mark. UL’s work with wind turbines will be based at its Northbrook facilities but the company also intends to offer field evaluation services globally, also supported by GL.
“UL has been working with manufacturers for some time to certify wind turbine components,” says Jeff Smidt, Global Manager of UL’s Global Energy Business. “This service will let manufacturers apply for system certification which covers electrical and fire safety for the entire turbine”. The organization adds that the wind turbine service will guide companies serving the global energy market through a process that minimizes time and resources they must dedicate to project administration and management.
UL say that while comprehensive, the portfolio of services is also flexible, letting manufacturers choose a level of evaluation they need based on turbine differences and their intended use and location. The organization has published two Outlines of Investigation for the wind industry and expects to release additional standard requirements. These will be the first to evaluate fire and electrical safety of wind turbines, and represents UL’s latest investment into its renewable energy business. The organization says it is pursuing business in other areas of renewable energy. The company recently established photovoltaic testing facilities in two key solar markets, San Jose, Calif. and Suzhou, China.
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