Intertek Announces the First Electrical Safety Listing of a Large Wind Turbine Hydraulic Brake System
11 May 2010
First certified braking system highlights the need for certified components to promote timely growth of clean energy solutions.
Chicago, IL - An important step for bringing the widespread use of wind power for energy applications in North America was announced today by Intertek (LSE:ITRK), a leading provider of a broad range of support services for manufacturers, owners and operators in the wind energy industry. It is the industry’s first electrical safety certification of a large wind turbine hydraulic brake system in North America for Hydrep, Inc. of Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada. With the widely recognized ETL Listed Mark, this first-of-its-kind certification will provide Hydrep with a means for ensuring that their equipment will be accepted by safety inspectors throughout North America.
Brian Kramak, Director, Energy Services at Intertek noted that: “The absence of a nationally accepted standard for wind turbines is leading to a significant slowdown in the completion of projects involving this critical source of green energy. Although Intertek has certified gear boxes and brake system for large wind turbines there are still many major and minor components that have not been certified. Coordinated action by state, local and industry officials is needed for the time construction of this clean energy source.”
The absence of a nationally accepted standard for large wind turbines has lead to state, local and provincial inspectors delaying completion of wind turbine projects. Owners or manufacturers must provide evidence that their product complies with applicable safety standards. The certification of the brake system, along with the industry’s first certification of large wind turbine gearboxes to accepted standards, is part of Intertek’s effort to qualify safety-critical wind turbine components and sub-systems – and eventually the wind turbine as a whole. By providing certification for the major electrical and mechanical components such as brake and gearbox systems, Intertek reduces compliance challenges for manufacturers.
“This certification of the Hydrep brake system for large wind turbines is another example of Intertek leading the industry, providing solutions throughout the supply chain that mitigate risk for manufacturers and operators,” said Kramak. “Product certification, maintenance, verification and monitoring are critical services in the wind power industry, and Intertek provides world-class expertise in each one.”
“The ETL Listing of our wind turbine brake system helps us to differentiate our product to our customers and prospects, and provides them with assurance that the hydraulic brake system has been fully assessed for compliance with applicable National product safety Standards for the US and Canada,” according to Pierre Yves Tremblay, P.Eng and General Manager for the Wind products development team at Hydrep. “Intertek has developed a straightforward evaluation program that addresses both the electrical and hydraulic portions of the brake system. With only minor changes to our product, we were able to demonstrate full compliance with these requirements in a matter of weeks. Intertek effectively guided us through the process and demonstrated their wind turbine compliance engineering expertise every step of the way.”
Intertek is an OSHA-recognized NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) in the United States and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a Testing Organization (TO) and Certification Organization (CO). The Company has evaluated over 1,500 large wind turbines in North America. It is accredited to evaluate and certify products to a wide variety of local, national and international product safety standards.
Visit Intertek at WindPower 2010, booth 10137.
Contacts
Roy Strunin
Senior Marketing Manager
Telephone: 978-263-2662
roy.strunin@intertek.com
About Intertek’s Wind Services
Intertek supports manufacturers, owners and operators in the wind power industry with a broad range of services in including: certifications, field labelling, Structural analysis and inspection, system certification, preventative maintenance, independent verification, and monitoring.
For further information on Intertek’s wind power testing services, visit www.intertek.com/wind.
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace.
Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 24,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world. For further information, visit www.intertek.com/wind.