SGS Wind Energy Competence Center presented its services at the Global Wind Power Conference 2009 in China. Marcel Poodt, Lead Engineer of the SGS Wind Energy Technology Center (WETC), introduced the Full-Scale Blade Testing services offered by SGS. Participants showed great interest in the services provided by the newly established center.
Reliability of structures and wind turbines is essential for wind farms to perform safely and successfully. A minor failure can cause unacceptable downtime and loss. Independent certification and inspection, provided by an independent third party, can improve trust in wind energy projects and secure quality and certainty throughout the intended lifetime.
To address this, SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection, verification and certification company, opens its Wind Energy Technology Center (WETC) – a blade testing facility for blades up to 70m length in Tianjin, China, by midyear 2010. In a presentation, Marcel Poodt, SGS Lead Engineer for the WETC, introduced the Wind Energy Services of SGS to participants of the China Wind Power Conference 2009. He also discussed the different blade testing possibilities and methods that SGS offers.
With about 500 exhibitors and over 6,000 visitors, the China Wind Power Conference 2009 was the most important wind event in China, hosted by the recognized and respected Wind Energy Trade Association.
The SGS Wind Energy Technology Center in China (PDF 154 KB) mainly focuses on Rotor Blade Testing. As blade failures can have severe impact on safety, turbine downtime and public exposure, a thorough validation of the blades through full-scale testing is indispensable.
The SGS WETC provides a comprehensive range of full-scale blade testing services. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology for load application and blade measurements, the testing center can perform static and fatigue tests for various purposes:
– Certification testing according to IEC 61400-23
– Blade design validation
– Manufacturing quality testing
– Validation of repairs and design changes
Besides full-scale testing, WETC offers testing of material coupons and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods specifically developed for rotor blades. These tests are supported by the different global Competence Centers and Laboratories of SGS.
At the SGS Stand, turbine designers, blade manufacturers, wind park developers and many more visitors took the chance to ask questions about the Blade Test Center as well as about current topics regarding wind energy quality and reliability of wind farms. Highlight on the stand was a scale model of the WETC visualizing the static and fatigue test principle on a 1.5m blade.
About SGS Wind Energy Services
SGS Industrial Services, one of the biggest business lines of the SGS Group, is the preferred international partner for onshore and offshore wind farm projects.
SGS is committed to providing clients with a fully comprehensive program for the Wind Energy Sector, designed to meet the specific requirements of the wind energy market.
For more information, please contact:
SGS Industrial Services
Dr. Jan Behrendt Ibso
Vice President and Global Director Renewable Energy
t: +494030101236
f: +49 89 12504068236
industrial.pr@sgs.com
www.sgs.com/wind
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.
