SWCC Manufacturer FAQs (2/4/10)

If we plan to pursue SWCC certification, how do we get started?
The SWCC offers the service of independent, third-party verification that a small wind turbine meets the requirements of AWEA 9.1 - 2009 Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard. Applying for certification begins with a submission of a Notice of Intent to Submit an Application where the details of the wind turbine and proposed test plans are presented. Applicants may apply for SWCC certification after the turbine has been tested and evaluated per the AWEA standard and reporting is complete.

To get started, it is recommended that you read through the AWEA Standard and SWCC Policies.

To submit a Notice of Intent, please visit the Certification Application & Fee page.

What turbines are eligible for SWCC certification?
The SWCC will follow the scope of eligibility as defined in the AWEA standard. Eligible turbines are currently defined as electricity-producing wind turbines with a swept area up to 200 m²

Do we have to use an accredited laboratory for our turbine testing?
Some testing organizations are accredited to perform power performance, duration and acoustic testing to recognized standards and some are not. Test reports from accredited organizations such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will require the minimum level of scrutiny from the SWCC. Testing performed by non-accredited organizations will require a higher level of scrutiny to independently verify the test setup complies with the standard, the competence of the organization, and the quality of the test reports. Details are available in the SWCC Certification Policy.

You can download a list of potential test organizations that intend to test small wind turbines for the North American market. The list may not be all-inclusive. The list is not an endorsement of any test organization, only an informative list.

Can we certify our wind turbine using wind tunnel test results?
Wind tunnel testing may be useful in product development and wind turbine research, but is not permitted under AWEA nor IEC small wind turbine standards. Testing must be performed in 'free air'.

On what tower should our wind turbine be tested?
Annex H of IEC 61400-12-1 Power Performance Measurements of Electricity Producing Wind Turbines is incorporated in the AWEA standard and provides the following guidance:"the wind turbine shall be installed using the manufacturer's specified mounting system. If a wind turbine is not supplied with a specific mounting system, the generator should be mounted at a hub height of at least 10 m."

Except as required by the AWEA Standard, towers and foundation are not part of the scope of SWCC Certification. The AWEA Standard requires the manufacturer to supply the design specifications for towers to be used with their turbine. The tower used for the Duration Test is required to meet these specifications.

Can vertical axis or building- mounted turbines apply for certification?
Yes. The SWCC will follow the scope of eligibility as defined in the AWEA standard. Eligible turbines are currently defined as electricity-producing wind turbines with a swept area up to 200 m². Neither the intended market, mounting system nor axis of rotation are factors in turbine eligibility.

How long will it take to certify a turbine?
Testing a small wind turbine to the requirements of the AWEA standard can be expected to take at least six months, depending on the wind regime in which the test facility is located. Testing and reporting may take as much as one or two years to complete. The process of completing SWCC certification will depend on the quality of the test reports and level of issue resolution required. SWCC certification is expected to take 2 to 4 months once test reports and an application is received.

Does the testing need to be done in North America?
No, there is no geographical limitation placed on the testing organization or test facility. The testing must comply with the requirements of the AWEA standard. Test plans should be discussed with the SWCC as part of the Notice of Intent to Submit an Application.

Will SWCC be a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and will building inspectors accept this certification?
There is still a missing piece related to the permitting and inspection of small wind turbine installations: electrical testing and listing of small wind turbines for code compliance. The development of the AWEA Standard and SWCC was never meant to address this need.

SWCC certification is primarily a verification of durability, function, power performance, and acoustic characteristics of small wind turbines to provide consumers and state agencies with information that will help them make informed decisions. Code enforcing officials may still require NRTL certification that ensures the electrical safety of the wind turbine and satisfies the NEC requirement for NRTL listing. This electrical safety certification is currently outside the scope of the SWCC.

UL has announced that they are in the process of creating three new wind turbine standards to address this issue:

UL 6141 Large Wind Turbine Generating Systems
UL 6142 Small Wind Turbine Generating Systems
UL 6171 Wind Turbine Converters and Interconnection Systems Equipment

Does anyone require SWCC Certification?
Of the state and utility incentive program managers who responded to an SWCC survey, 11 indicated that they plan to require certification for small wind turbines to be eligible for funding, 4 others are considering such requirements, and 7 indicated that certification could help expand their programs to include small wind turbines. Out of 23 states and utilities with existing requirements for small wind turbines, 12 indicated that they expect to use SWCC certification to supplement or replace these procedures. Some states have already included SWCC certification as a path to program.

Is certification required for the federal tax credit?
Not at this time. The current language in section 104 of H.R.1424 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 defines a 'qualifying small wind turbine' as a wind turbine which has a nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts. Stay informed of the rapidly changing details of state and federal at www.dsireusa.org.

What should we do if we intend to pursue Certification to IEC Standards, Certification to the BWEA Standard for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) in the UK, and SWCC Certification?
There are a number of certification bodies that offer Type Certification to the IEC 61400 series of standards for wind turbines. Type Certification is currently performed in accordance with IEC WT 01: IEC System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Wind Turbines.

Information on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) in the UK can be found here.

If you are simultaneously pursuing multiple certifications, it is advised that you understand the requirements of your chosen certification bodies prior to commencing turbine testing in order to design the testing in a way that can most efficiently satisfy the various requirements for certification.

The SWCC Certification Policy describes our Conditional Temporary Certification. This time-limited Certification may be granted by SWCC where a small wind turbine has been tested and analyzed pursuant to the IEC 61400 series of Standards or the BWEA Standard (which are similar to the AWEA Standard); however, certain requirements of the AWEA Standard have not been met. If Conditional Certification is granted, SWCC may require that the Applicant satisfy identified conditions or additional requirements within the eighteen (18) month Conditional Certification period in order for the SWT to be eligible to apply for full SWCC Certification.

What will it cost to have our wind turbine certified by the SWCC?
Payment of a non-refundable Preliminary Review Fee of $2,500 per turbine (plus $1,250 for each additional configuration of the same type included) is required with submission of the NOI. This fee covers SWCC's initial review of the turbine design and test plans as well as development of tailored Certification Agreement(s) including requirements of the structural analysis and certification fee estimates. Additional Applicant-specific fees will be required for test site evaluation (for non-accredited test sites), the full certification application, conversion from conditional to full certification (if required), annual certification maintenance, and certification renewals.

The fees associated with testing for certification vary greatly. The SWCC recommends discussing this with your testing organization.

Why does the SWCC Certification expire after 5 years and why is an annual report required?
Our procedures conform to international requirements as much as possible.

The international standard for the certification of wind turbines, IEC WT01: IEC System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Wind Turbines, states that the period of validity shall not exceed five (5) years and that the wind turbine shall be reviewed at periodic intervals.

A new international standard for the certification of wind turbines, IEC 61400-22, is currently being developed which will replace WT01. The draft technical specification of -22 includes a requirement for an annual report for the certified wind turbine that includes information on abnormal operating experience or failures as well as changes to the wind turbine design.