The DOE recently announced the selection of four partners to establish small wind Regional Test Centers (RTCs) to conduct tests on small wind turbines to meet national and international standards. These awards provide funding, training, and technical support for each Regional Test Center so they may conduct testing on two small wind turbines to support the burgeoning U.S. small wind turbine market.
Award recipients are:
Intertek Testing Services NA Inc. in New York,
Kansas State University,
The Alternative Energy Institute at West Texas A&M University, and
Windward Engineering LLC in Utah.
One goal of the Regional Test Center project is to support the U.S. small wind market by increasing the number of organizations qualified to conduct small wind-turbine-standards testing and to drive down testing costs. Test results are used by certification bodies, such as the Small Wind Certification Council, to certify small wind turbines for durability and performance.
Certification testing lets small wind turbine buyers make informed choices and provides states with the data needed to determine turbine eligibility for incentive programs. These Regional Test Center awards are provided by DOE and NREL in a continuing effort to support the growth of the U.S. small-wind-turbine market and lets U.S. manufacturers sell their small wind turbine products abroad.