Small Wind Certification Council

What is SWCC certification?
An independent confirmation that the Small Wind Turbine has been tested and designed per the requirements of the AWEA Standard (see below). SWCC Certification is based on an evaluation of the wind turbine design (Structural Analysis) and field testing (Power performance test, Acoustic sound test, Safety & Function test, and Duration test).

Certification is not an assertion that the Small Wind Turbine is durable, reliable, quiet, loud, safe, efficient, good, bad, failure-proof or perfect. Certification is not provided by AWEA.

What are the benefits of SWCC certification?
Certification labels ease consumer comparison of the wide variety of small wind turbine products on the market. Funding agencies and utilities will gain greater confidence that small turbines installed with public assistance have been tested for safety, function, performance and durability and meet requirements of consensus standards. Certification can help prevent unethical marketing and false claims, thereby ensuring consumer protection and industry credibility.

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.

Does anyone require SWCC Certification?
More than a dozen states and utilities are sending a clear signal to small wind turbine (SWT) manufacturers on future requirements for certification. As of January 1, 2012, small wind turbines without certification will no longer be eligible for incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon. Wisconsin's Focus on Energy has aligned its requirements to the SWCC and has established a new provisional incentive for small wind turbines pending certification. Focus on Energy will soon announce its date that it will require certification for all turbines to stay or become eligible for incentives. Numerous states rely on the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority(NYSERDA) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) lists to qualify small wind turbines for incentive programs. NYSERDA itself now accepts SWCC certification as a means to be included on its list of certified wind turbines. As turbines become certified, program managers for those incentives plan on simplifying the qualification procedures by adopting SWCC certification as a means of eligibility.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) currently requires certification by SWCC or NYSERDA qualification, and intends to rely primarily on the SWCC certified turbine list in the future. Several other states and utilities have identified SWCC certification as a pathway to eligibility for incentives or expect to require certification as a requirement for eligibility for funding or interconnection, including programs in: Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and Vermont. Several others are considering such requirements.

In a 2006 SWCC survey, seven incentive program managers indicated that certification could help expand their programs for small wind turbines. More than half of the states, utilities, and funding agencies with existing requirements for small wind turbines who responded to the SWCC survey indicated that they expect to use certification to supplement or replace these procedures.

A list of links to small wind incentive programs requiring or expecting to require certification can be found here. The Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) Database has current information on dozens of additional state and utility policies for small wind incentive programs.

How long will it take to certify turbines?
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 approximately 2 to 4 months once test reports and an application is received. The structural analysis of the wind turbine can be performed in parallel with the field testing.

How does SWCC certification 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.

For more details, see the AWEA Standard and SWCC Policies.

Manufacturers or authorized third parties can submit a Notice of Intent format, provided on the Certification Application & Fee page.

What is the AWEA Standard?
The AWEA Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard (AWEA Standard 9.1 – 2009) incorporates, with modifications, existing International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for small wind turbines. It is written to ensure the quality of the wind turbine can be assessed while imposing only reasonable costs and difficulty on the manufacturer who chooses to voluntarily certify their product.

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 (approximately 65 kW).

Who is eligible to apply for SWCC certification?
Persons or entities that design and/or manufacture the small wind turbine (SWT) or their authorized designee (with written proof). The applicant must own the rights to manufacture and/or distribute the SWT.

Are accredited laboratories required for 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 on-site audits and 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.

Is SWCC accredited?
SWCC is pursuing ANSI Accreditation for Product Certification Bodies and used the ISO/IEC Guide 65 as a guide for our policies.

Can wind turbines be certified 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 towers should wind turbines 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.

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.

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

What about turbines pursuing multiple certifications to IEC Standards, the BWEA Standard for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) in the UK, and SWCC Certification for North America?
A number of certification bodies 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.

Manufacturers simultaneously pursuing multiple certifications are advised to understand the requirements of the 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 wind turbines 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. Selected testing organizations can provide more information.

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.

How is the SWCC funded?
SWCC currently receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and NYSERDA. In previous years SWCC has also received funding from the Nevada State Office of Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon, Wisconsin Division of Energy, CanWEA (funds from NRCan), Casper College (Wyoming), Iowa Energy Center, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) facilitated Phase 1 and 2 of SWCC’s development and has assisted with Phase 3.

What items will be made available to the public?
If the Applicant chooses, the Applicant name and turbine name will be listed as "Application Pending" on the SWCC website once a Certification Agreement has been executed. Once certification is granted, a Summary Report, the SWCC Certificate, and the SWCC Consumer Label will be made available to the public. The details of these reports are described in the Small Wind Certification Policy. All other turbine informaiton will remain confidential.