Despite the global financial crisis, wind energy is still a growing market which more and more attracts the attention of the producing industry. Suppliers from neighbour branches are preparing to enter the lucrative wind energy market or already established themselves successfully.
For more than 30 years Renewables Certification (RC) successfully certifies wind turbines, their components and wind farm projects worldwide. Based on that experience some general and some special challenges in the certification process for the component manufacturers will be discussed. Also examples of most common and some extraordinary requirements for the component manufacturers will be presented for the fulfilment of the Component Certification. It will be shown how Component Certification leads to a better product and often to an adapted manufacturing process considering the international recognized standards like GL’s “Guideline for the Certification of Wind Turbines, Edition 2010” and “Guideline for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines, Edition 2012”. The focus will be on electrical components.