The wind energy sector continues to boom. Installed capacity worldwide, is set to rise to 493,330 MW in 2016. TÜV SÜD provides a wide range of services aimed at ensuring safe, reliable and profitable wind plants. Visitors can find out more at the Husum WindEnergy 2012 (Hall 7, Stand 7A02).

"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 at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. "In this context, we cover the entire range of services from site assessment to type certification and wind-farm certification." To this end, the 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. They are also actively involved in the further development of LIDAR technology. LIDAR systems profile wind fields and provide accurate wind velocity measurement with the help of laser radar. 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.

The establishment of an offshore wind-power department in Hamburg has significantly strengthened the position of TÜV SÜD in the promising offshore sector. According to estimates by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), the capacity of European offshore wind farms could rise to 40,000 MW by 2020. "In Germany, we expect the installed capacity to increase to roughly 8,500 MW by 2020", says Alexander Heitmann, Head of Offshore Wind Power at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service. The service portfolio of this business unit 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 owner's engineer services 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 experts also offer periodic testing and inspection of offshore wind turbines and their foundations including all required approved-body tests.

At the Husum WindEnergy trade fair from 18 to 22 September 2012 TÜV SÜD's experts can be found at Stand 7A02, Hall 7. For further information about the wind power services provided by TÜV SÜD visit www.tuev-sued.de/windenergie

Note: Dr Karl Weber and Antonello Gaviano of TÜV SÜD Embedded Systems give insights into "The integration of wind and photovoltaic systems in a smart grid" in a talk on 20 September 2012 from 3 to 3:45 pm. The location of the talk had not been determined at the time of publication of this press release and will be announced.