Technical acceptance of wind turbines to the BWE standard
Technical acceptance of wind turbines: independent, standards-compliant turbine inspection to the BWE standard for safe, contract-compliant commissioning.
Acceptance of a wind turbine is a milestone and demands great technical precision. We support you with a professional, standards-compliant and independent inspection that includes partial discharge measurements and the comprehensive turbine acceptance to the BWE standard. This way your turbines go onto the grid safely, in compliance with the contract and ready for operation. Acceptance is the point where turbine and contract come together: you check whether the wind turbine has been delivered and erected as ordered before operation starts. An independent inspection avoids later disputes about defects. In supply contracts, takeover is usually tied to each turbine being mechanically complete and commissioned and having passed the agreed tests, which are generally rated as "passed" or "failed".
Takeover can take place for individual turbines, in groups or for the entire wind farm. The timing and scope of the SCADA test depend on the supply contract and the agreed acceptance programme. Besides the turbine technology, documents count. Acceptance reports describe the actual condition at the time of inspection unambiguously, assess it against standards and guidelines and classify whether a defect exists. Where possible they propose remedial measures and make measurement methods and data bases traceable. Besides construction acceptance, practice knows further types of report, for example for the end of the warranty and for recurring inspections. Experts must be suitable for work on the turbine, including work at height and climbing and rescue, and must observe the operating manual.
Evidence is also required towards the authority. Depending on the procedure, authorities require confirmations from authorised experts on structural stability, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering before commissioning, together with a test certificate for the electrical installation. Whether a multi-month endurance test forms part of the type testing, of a contractual verification or of the acceptance programme depends on the certification procedure and the contract. In addition there are the nameplate and CE marking as well as the functional test of the grid protection in coordination with the grid operator. You receive an inspection report with photo documentation and defect list and solution-oriented recommendations. The defect list records what has to be rectified before takeover or within the warranty period. We support you in communicating with the turbine manufacturers and other trades.
Technical acceptance thus creates a documented starting position for the warranty, because defects are recorded and deadlines for their rectification can be agreed. Partial discharge measurement assesses cable sections, joints, terminations and switchgear without putting additional stress on the equipment. Acceptance complements local building supervision for wind farms; partial discharge measurement is also available as a separate service. You can follow the status up to acceptance in EWS Construction Monitoring. For the procedure with the authorities there is specialist support for the acceptance procedure, and the documents are compiled in the final inspection documentation (Kollaudierungsoperat).
