Canada - WEICan allocates $250,000 for Type Testing of small wind turbines

On the 14 August WEICan announced that it had allocated $250,000 for Type Testing of small wind turbines and requested proposals from companies that would be interested in participating. Type Tests will be conducted in accordance with the (yet to be finalised) North American small wind standard. It is intended that turbine manufacturers will then have those test results certified by the newly-established North American Small Wind Certification Corporation (SWCC).

Details of the RFP were announced by WEICan on the 26 September at which point the closing date for submissions was set at 31 October.

At the closing date nine quality submissions were received and subsequently analysed. WEICan convened a team of independent experts to review all submissions. That review considered both the technical and commercial merits of the proposals.

Further to that review it has been decided to proceed with a detailed testing programme with 5 of the original nine applicant companies. The turbines involved range in output capacities from 1.3kW – 66kW. WEICan is currently engaged in contractual negotiations with the successful parties. Once these are completed the names of the companies involved and the details of the turbines being tested, will be announced.