Wind industry adopts new standards for domestic wind turbines

20 March 2008

BWEA, the UK’s leading renewable energy business organisation, launched a new Small Wind Turbine (SWT) performance and safety standard at yesterday’s BRE Small Scale Wind Seminar.

The standard will allow consumers who want to install small wind systems to compare products on a like for like basis. It a result of extended testing of turbines in operational conditions. Consumers will be able to compare power outputs and noise, and have assurance of quality, as to pass the standard each turbine will have had to pass a rigorous 2000+ hours testing progremme.

Alex Murley, BWEA Small Systems Manager says: “Although small wind is a young and emerging technology, the UK industry is leading the global sector. The publication of the new BWEA Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard demonstrates that the UK small wind industry is committed to transparency, customer satisfaction and safety standards.”

The standard was first published by BWEA in March 2007 and is linked to the Government managed Micro-generation Certification Scheme. Following further work by BWEA members and consultations with Government, the standard has now been updated.

Alex Murley says: “This standard goes further than any other national document in defining noise parameters, to help prevent nuisance.”