DIUS paves the way forward for small and micro wind turbines

(13/02/2009)

Wind powered microgeneration is predicted to become common place over the next few years, with turbines being installed on thousands of existing domestic and commercial buildings, as well as being incorporated into many new builds. It has been estimated that by 2050 small scale wind generation could reach 15GW of electricity and account for 6% of the UK's total electricity demand thus reducing the country's CO2 emissions by about 4%.

TUV NEL has been awarded a contract by DIUS (Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills) in support of its National Wind Energy Metrology Centre. In addition to support for larger wind farm sized machines, this new funding will pave the way forward for small and micro wind turbines, leading to the wider adoption of domestic electricity microgeneration to significantly reduce national CO2 emissions.

TUN VEL’s wind energy metrology centre will provide the underpinning metrology and knowledge transfer that will allow the wind industry at large to establish new test procedures and methodologies. Work is already underway in support of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which was introduced in 2006 to verify the performance, reliability, and safety of wind turbines.

At present buyers of small scale wind turbines have to largely rely on manufacturer claims. To address this, BERR (The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) established the MCS to evaluate products and installers against robust criteria for microgeneration technologies, providing greater protection for consumers and ensuring that Government grant money is spent in an effective manner.

Large scale wind farms are carefully planned around the meteorological and environmental conditions of their individual locations, but domestic installations will rely on manufacturer claims and the expertise of the installer. The new centre at TUV NEL will verify manufacturer claims and ensure that consumers are given accurate specifications, which can be easily compared through MCS certification.

“Our Centre will provide the wind industry as a whole with a unique facility to assess wind turbine design, performance and environmental considerations at all levels,” explains Alistair Mackinnon of TUV NEL. “More efficient and better designed turbines are opening up wind energy to a mass market. However, consumers need to have confidence that what they install will be safe and suitable for their needs and will actually operate as specified. The Centre will also be of benefit to the large turbine market as it will help to verify the claims of manufacturers and ensure consistency across the industry.”

The National Wind Energy Metrology Centre builds upon the proven reputation of TUV NEL to test and assist in the development of wind power technology. The company’s Myres Hill wind turbine test site has been in operation since the early 1980’s and has been a focal point for the development of both technology and standards for the past 25 years.

Related categories:  Eco-friendly Power generation   Environmental technologies for industrial plants and factories   Environmental technologies for offices and commercial   Environmental technologies for Residential and Green homes   Wind power