USA: GL Renewables Certification at AWEA Windpower 2013

GL Renewables Certification (GL RC) has published its new “Guideline for the Certification of Condition Monitoring Systems for Wind Turbines”.

This guideline was compiled in cooperation with its Wind and Marine Energy Committee. The new guideline, which is presented at AWEA Windpower 2013, covers the most important requirements for the development, installation and operation of condition monitoring systems.

Obtaining economical wind turbine operations is vital in light of initial wind farm development costs. Operators and manufacturers aim to achieve wind turbine availability of more than 97%. In order to reduce unplanned downtime, increase availability and to reduce maintenance costs, continuous condition monitoring of wind turbines is indispensable. “Condition monitoring systems can help eliminate areas of concern and save thousands of euros of offline costs,” says Andreas Schroeter, Managing Director of GL RC.

The updated guideline reflects the latest developments of condition monitoring systems for wind turbines and future requirements. “Currently almost all condition monitoring systems are operating independently from the control system and almost exclusively the drive train is monitored”, explains Dr Karl Steingroever, GL RC’s expert for condition monitoring systems. “Future condition monitoring systems will be partly or fully integrated into the control system and include the monitoring of the entire wind turbine. In this context the definition of interfaces between the systems is playing a major role.”

GL RC’s guidelines and technical notes are discussed in its Wind and Marine Energy Committee before publication. The Wind and Marine Energy Committee represents the relevant groups in the field of wind energy. The members of the committee are drawn from public authorities, wind turbine and component manufacturers, engineering consultants, institutes, universities, technical associations and insurance companies. Guidelines and notes have been issued for onshore and offshore turbines, wind farms, marine energy, offshore risk analyses, training systems, maintenance systems and many further aspects.

[mappress]

Press release, May 6, 2013