At the EWEA in Copenhagen visitors can inform themselves between 16 and 19 April 2012 (Hall E, Stand E-C71)about about the comprehensive services of TÜV SÜD in the field of wind energy and about the possibilities offered by the LIDAR technology.

According to estimates by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), the capacity of European offshore wind farms alone could rise to 40,000 MW by 2020. "In Germany, around 21,000 megawatts are in the project pipeline and around 8,500 megawatts in the final stage of planning", says Alexander Heitmann, Head of Offshore Wind Energy at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH.

The establishment of an offshore wind-power department in Hamburg has significantly strengthened the position of TÜV SÜD in the offshore sector. Its service portfolio includes certification of offshore wind farms, technical testing of offshore foundation structures, preparation of risk assessments, development and surveillance of occupational health and safety schemes, and monitoring and quality assurance throughout the entire construction phase of offshore projects. Another focal area concerns factory inspection and quality control during the production of all components, including cross-interface quality assurance to ensure smooth interaction between the individual components. TÜV SÜD's offshore experts also provide periodic testing and inspection of offshore wind farms throughout their service life.

The offshore services round off the existing portfolio of proven wind power services offered by TÜV SÜD Industrie Service. "We offer comprehensive and customized support for manufacturers, engineering and construction companies, and operators and investors of wind farms", explains Dr Martin Webhofer, Head of Wind Power of TÜV SÜD Industrie Service. "In this context, we cover the entire spectrum of services from type certification to wind-farm certification." To this end, the wind experts use a set of aligned assessment instruments including wind measurement, yield prediction, analysis of wind resources and expert opinions on turbulence and extreme winds.

TÜV SÜD's experts are also involved in the further development of LIDAR. This light detection and ranging technology is used to identify wind fields and measure wind profiles with the help of laser beams and has the potential to replace conventional anemometers mounted on met masts. Finally, TÜV SÜD wind farm due diligence and wind farm certification ensure that the potential offered by a site will be fully exploited and that the decision to invest in a wind turbine or wind farm is firmly grounded on a sound foundation.