US offshore turbine certification centre launched

UNITED STATES: A test centre for offshore wind turbines is to be launched by a consortium comprising sustainable energy research group Ecofys, data processor Fugro and technology group Real NewEnergy.

The Poseidon Atlantic facility off the eastern Atlantic shore of the US state of Virginia has come about through a collaboration between the Commonwealth of Virginia, Northampton County and the Virginia Port Authority with further support from the Dutch government.

The centre will supply testing and certification services providing proof of quality for offshore wind facilities. It will also serve the needs of turbine manufacturers and transmission network operators.

It will draw on Ecofys’ expertise in Holland. Earlier this year it launched Europe’s largest onshore turbine testing centre in Lelystad in the Netherlands.