TÜV Rheinland Certifies Prototype Vertical System from Directtech

TÜV Rheinland has provided a prototype certificate to Directtech, an energy systems manufacturer based in Moers. The certificate relates to the "Windtracker" system that features a vertical axis and is intended for the German and international markets. The system was certified according to international standards IEC 61400-22:2010 and IEC 61400-2:2013 for the certification of wind turbines. "This is the first time a vertical wind turbine has been certified according to the IEC 61400 standard", says Frederico Osvald, project manager at TÜV Rheinland. Vertical wind turbines are not yet widely used in the wind energy industry. The advantage of vertical systems is that they are, as a rule, quiet and do not cast shadows, and that they can be integrated in architectures and infrastructures. "They are an interesting solution for a local, decentralized energy supply that is independent of the national grid", the expert explains.  

As part of the certification of the system, which is just under 20 meters in height, all relevant safety requirements and loads of the wind turbine were examined. The measurements and data analysis for field measurements were performed by Windtest Grevenbroich, an accredited company. The subject of certification was a twin turbine with a capacity of 10 kW for international wind class IV, which roughly corresponds to German wind class 2 as defined by DIBT, the German Centre of Competence for Construction.

TÜV Rheinland offers comprehensive services in the field of wind energy to manufacturers, operators, investors and insurers. TÜV Rheinland assists customers around the world by creating appraisals, by performing condition monitoring, risk analyses and damage analyses, and by certifying wind turbines and wind farms. TÜV Rheinland is accredited by DAkks, Germany's national accreditation body, for the certification of onshore and offshore wind farms and their components according to national and international standards.