What is wind farm certification?
Project certification helps to verify that wind farms meet site-specific conditions. It identifies risks at an early stage when they are more manageable. If initiated in the early stages, project certification can significantly reduce the risk profile of a wind project.
Why is wind farm certification important?
Given the substantial funding required for these projects, it is important for investors and owners to protect their investment by minimising risks. Operators need to safeguard their wind power production while complying with national regulations. Wind farm certification ensures quality assurance across the entire project as well as crucial individual phases that is critical for ensuring the profitable operation of onshore and offshore wind farms.
TÜV SÜD helps you protect your investment by providing independent monitoring and evaluation of your wind farm project.
As your expert partner, we provide a full range of services from greenfield planning, due diligence, construction, grid connection and evaluation of installations to final commissioning. Our engineers are engaged in all aspects of approval, design review and calculation (stress analyses, dynamics, lifecycle assessment) and in the review, testing, approval and certification across the current range of wind farm projects. As a Wind Energy Certification Body, we carry out certifications, approvals and inspections in the field of wind power and participate in the preparation of standards and regulations. The certification of your wind farm will be documented by a project certificate according to IEC or GL standards.
Our wind farm certification services include:
Site condition assessment
- Soil investigation (technical design, validation of exploration results)
- Review of measuring campaigns (mast, lidar, etc.)
- Evaluation of wind and energy yield reports
- Assessment of maritime conditions
- Verification of load-case definitions
- Conceptual/feasibility design examination (turbine, foundation, transformer station, cables, etc.)
Design basis evaluation
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We ensure that the main design parameters and requirements are properly documented and sufficient for the safe design and execution of the project.
Design risk analysis (HAZIP/HAZOP)
- Facilitate HAZIP/HAZOP workshops
- Appoint experts or specialists
- Hazard identification
- Hazard analysis
- Risk estimation
- Comprehensive reporting and individual worksheet development
Design evaluation
- Verification of both integrated and dynamic load calculations
- Technical review of detailed foundation design
- Technical evaluation of:
- Detailed turbine design
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Substation
- Secondary structures of turbine and/or substation
- Lifting operations/equipment
- Assessment of met mast
- Review of the logistics and installation concept
- Assessment of the HSE scheme.
Detailed structural analysis (FE Computation)
- Linear and nonlinear analysis of stresses, deformations and stability
- Review of global and local load conditions occurring at OWEC, foundational structures and offshore installation ships
- Evaluation of local plastification under extreme loads
- Fatigue analysis of welded and unwelded details
- Confirmation of further requirements for usability during transport, construction and operation
Collision analysis
- Evaluation of dynamic phenomena caused by ship-to-offshore wind structure collisions using explicit
FE-Software
- Assessment of local deformation at ship and turbine structure or substation structure
- Assessment of damage to the ship or the turbine/substation primary or secondary structure from mooring impact
- Variation studies
- Failure scenario investigation
Production evaluation
- Assessment of suppliers (quality, experience, capacity)
- Audits of production facilities:
- Review of manufacturing documents
- Review of training and qualifications
- Sampling tests of manufacturing quality:
- Review of current state during production
- Detection of deviations to target state
- Review of material quality and workmanship
- Continuous monitoring of production:
- Compliance with quality specification
- Adherence to time schedules
- On-site representative
- Transportation and installation
- Design and planning phase:
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Insight into assembly planning and verification of assembly instructions
- Calculation and assessment of hydrodynamic motion coupling
- Consideration of motion behaviour, operating limits, resulting forces and safety
- Investigation areas (mutual shielding, anchoring effects, lifting operations, lashing, etc.)
- Operational phase:
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Monitoring of installation process (identify errors and determine causes)
- Adherence to planning, specifications, regulations and codes of practice
- Quality assurance measures (checking the integrity and completeness of deliveries, etc.)
- Review of health and safety requirements of Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
- Review of lifting accessories, chains, ropes and webbing, construction site hoists
- Compliance with health and safety regulations
- Safety management and inspections
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Monitoring/certification of commissioning
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Wind turbine and foundation
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Substation
- National required commissioning inspections of components (BSH and BetrSichVerordnung; inclusive e.g. Davit-Cranes, elevators, pressure tanks)
Survey of plant safety in accordance with accident prevention regulations (ladder and climbing protection system, PPE, crane systems)
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Tests on proper functioning of control and safety systems of wind turbine and operational behaviour
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Checks for damage and conformity of the components used with the certification documents
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Inspection after start-up/final acceptance test
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Periodic inspection (turbine, substation, cranes, elevators, safety equipment)
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End of warranty inspections
Failure analysis
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Identification of cause of failures, process analysis
- Identification and assessment of failure effects
- Witnessing and support of tests and measurements
- Fracture-mechanics assessment of existing defects in components and assessment of remaining service life
- Support in developing technical solutions
- Evaluation of measures and solutions
- Assessment of technical and organisational measures in the continued operation of damaged components
- Endoscopy and non-destructive testing (NDT) on-site or in our testing laboratories
- Presentation of technological connections and cause of failure to non-technical audiences
Decommissioning assessment
- Compliance with decommissioning standards when removing whole installations and performing seabed clearance
- Notification and marking of remains
- Maintenance and management of site after decommissioning
Extended operation
- Assess operational and maintenance records of wind farms
- Conduct periodic monitoring on all parts, systems and components for functionality, corrosion, wear or damage
- Determine appropriate strategies for extended operation such as additional monitoring, design modification, exchange of wind turbines and components, inspection and maintenance, and optimisation of operation
