Offshore wind: TÜV Rheinland wins testing contract from Vestas

Testing of wind turbines before commissioning with innovative concept / 27 turbines for wind farm in the Baltic Sea / TÜV Rheinland continues to expand its offering in the renewable energies sector

TÜV Rheinland has won a major contract to test offshore wind turbines from Danish manufacturer Vestas. Under the contract, TÜV Rheinland experts will test lifts, cranes, pressure vessels and safety-related components of 27 of the company’s wind turbines. The tests will be carried out prior to commissioning of the turbines, which are scheduled to start operation in 2023 in the Baltic Sea as the “Arcadis Ost 1” wind farm with an installed capacity of 257 megawatts. The Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas is one of the world’s most renowned manufacturers in the offshore wind energy market. The company has installed more than 160 gigawatt (GW) of wind power capacity.

TÜV Rheinland developed an innovative concept for the contract. The aim was to cover all inspection requirements while reducing costs and risks. For example, TÜV Rheinland’s experts test numerous components of the plants while they are still in port. This eliminates many of the costly tests on the high seas and the final offshore test could be reduced to a minimum.

“Offshore wind makes a significant contribution to the shift toward renewable energies. With our comprehensive testing expertise, we are helping to ensure that the wind energy industry can meet these expectations and achieve its ambitious growth targets safely and reliably,” says Lars Mitzka, Team Leader Offshore Wind at TÜV Rheinland. For TÜV Rheinland, the offshore wind business is an important pillar of the wind energy business. According to business field manager Sebastian Rothe it is to be further expanded in the coming years.