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ICC-SWCC Certifies First Turbines to New ACP 101-1 Standard

For Immediate Release:
April 24, 2023
www.smallwindcertification.org
Contact: Shawn Martin
(888) 422-7233, ext. 7736
swcc@solar-rating.org

 

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ICC-SWCC Certifies First Turbines to New ACP 101-1 Standard

Certifications support turbine eligibility for clean energy incentives and highlight growing momentum in the small wind sector

Brea, Calif. – The ICC Small Wind Certification Council (ICC-SWCC), a program of ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), has awarded two new certifications to Kodair Wind Designs Ltd. for its KW20 and KW30 wind turbines. These are the first turbines to be certified to the ACP 101-1, 2021 Small Wind Turbine Standard,which succeeded the long-used AWEA 9.1-2009 standard.

Kodair Wind, based in Ireland, has been developing innovative and economical wind turbines since 2006. The company’s current models—the KW20 and KW30—represent its latest advancements in distributed wind technology.

  • The KW20 wind turbine was awarded SWCC certification SWCC 22-02. It is a 3-bladed horizontal axis wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 13.1mand a measured peak power of 20.8 kW.
  • The KW30 wind turbine was awarded SWCC certification SWCC 22-03. It is a 3-bladed horizontal axis wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 14.1mand a measured peak power of 31.6 kW.

Both turbines underwent testing at Kodair’s facility in County Galway, Ireland,from late 2023 through early 2024. Testing was managed and supervised by Joseph Spossey of RE Innovations.

KW20 and KW30 turbines on the test site in County Galway, Ireland. Photo provided by Kodair Wind Designs Ltd.

“Achieving SWCC certification is a major milestone for our team,” said John Flaherty, CEO at Kodair Wind Designs Ltd. “It reinforces the performance and durability of our turbines and gives our customers confidence that our products meet the latest international benchmarks.”

“We’re proud to see the first certifications issued to the ACP 101-1 standard, and pleased to recognize Kodair Wind Designs for reaching this milestone,” said Shawn Martin, Vice President of Technical Services at ICC-SWCC. “This achievement not only reflects the quality and performance of the KW20 andKW30 turbines, but also signals growing momentum in the small wind sector as it aligns with updated standards and clean energy incentives.”

The ACP 101-1 standard, released in 2021, was developed to streamline testing for small wind turbines under 150 kW. It is now one of several standards used to qualify wind turbines for U.S. Federal Tax Credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Certification of the KW20 and KW30 turbines underscores the value of independent, third-party evaluation in advancing the small wind industry. By meeting the latest standard, Kodair’s turbines help set a benchmark for performance, safety, and reliability in distributed wind systems.

For more information about ICC-SWCC certifications, visit: www.smallwindcertification.org

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About ICC-SRCC
The Small Wind Certification Council (ICC-SWCC), a program of ICC Evaluation Service, is ISO 17065 accredited to certify small and medium wind turbines that meet or exceed the requirements of specified standards. Designed to promote consumer confidence and mainstream acceptance of small and medium wind technology, ICC-SWCC certification standardizes North American reporting of turbine performance.

About ICC-ES
ICC-ES is the leading evaluation service for innovative building materials, components and systems. ICC-ES Evaluation Reports (ESRs), Building Product Listings and PMG Listings provide evidence that products and systems meet requirements of codes and technical standards worldwide, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and the MENA region. ICC-ES is a member of the ICC family of solutions.

FILED UNDER: NEWS

How can I tell if a specific turbine is certified by ICC-SWCC?

All turbines with current, valid ICC-SWCC certifications under either the Small or Medium Wind Turbine Program are listed on the ICC-SWCC Directory of Certified Turbines. Certified turbines are eligible to use the SWCC Certification Mark and claim certification. They are also required to include SWCC’s Consumer-Friendly Certification Label on at least one page of a publicly available manual for the product.

 

FILED UNDER: CONSUMER-FAQS, FAQ, UNCATEGORIZED

NREL Announces New CIP Funding for SWCC Preliminary Reviews

NREL Announces New CIP Funding for Wind Turbine Preliminary Reviews

New funding covers the costs of Preliminary Reviews conducted by SWCC for wind turbine manufacturers.

Brea, Calif. – The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has announced a new subcontract with the Small Wind Certification Corporation (ICC-SWCC) under the Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP).  The subcontract will enable ICC-SWCC to waive the $3,000 fee for the Preliminary Reviews conducted for wind turbine manufacturers interested in certification for small and medium wind turbines.   The subcontract will run through November, 2024.

Under ICC-SWCC’s certification program, Preliminary Reviews are a required first step to qualify.  Manufacturers submit key information on their turbine, to allow ICC-SWCC to confirm eligibility for certification.  They then outline the specific testing and analyses that will be required to proceed with an application for certification.  This is formalized in an agreement provided to the manufacturer, along with application fees.  ICC-SWCC strongly recommends that potential applicants go through the process prior to testing for certification to ensure that costly and time-consuming testing is done in a way that will meet the specific requirements applicable to their turbine.  But if manufacturers have already conducted previous testing, the Preliminary Review process will examine the usefulness of that testing for ICC-SWCC certification.  If gaps in testing exist, the Review will identify the additional testing required.

For more information on ICC-SWCC’s certification programs for small and medium wind turbines, see www.smallwindcertification.org or Contact Us.

Click Here for NREL’s News Release (2/1/2023)

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About ICC-SWCC

The Small Wind Certification Council (ICC-SWCC), a program of the ICC Evaluation Service, is accredited to certify small and medium wind turbines that meet or exceed the requirements of specified standards. Designed to promote consumer confidence and mainstream acceptance of small and medium wind technology, ICC-SWCC certification standardizes North American reporting of turbine performance.  ICC-SWCC is a program of ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), the United States’ leading evaluation and certification service for innovative building and plumbing products. Building officials, architects, contractors, specifiers, designers and incentive programs utilize ICC-SWCC certifications to provide the basis for using or approving renewable energy products.

About NREL’s CIP Program

NREL’s Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) provides financial and technical support to manufacturers of small wind turbines, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office.

FILED UNDER: NEWS

ICC-SWCC Small Wind Certification Program Accreditation Expands to Include ACP 101-1

For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2022
www.smallwindcertification.org
Contact: Shawn Martin
(888) 422-7233, ext. 7736
swcc@solar-rating.org

 

Download PDF Version

 

ICC-SWCC Small Wind Certification Program Accreditation Expands to Include ACP 101-1

New standard streamlines testing and certification requirements of distributed wind turbines

Brea, Calif. – The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC), a program of ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), can now offer certification to the new ACP 101-1 standard for small wind turbines under its Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) certification program. SWCC has long provided certification services for small wind turbines to the AWEA 9.1 standard under its IEC/ISO 17065 accredited programs. That accreditation has expanded to include the ACP 101-1 standard.

ANSI/ACP 101-1-2021 The Small Wind Certification Standard was published by the American Clean Power Association (ACP) and approved by ANSI in 2021 as the successor to the AWEA 9.1-2009 standard. ACP assumed responsibility for the AWEA 9.1 standard and worked through its ANSI-approved standard development process to complete the highly anticipated update.

SWCC will continue to provide AWEA 9.1 certification for existing clients but will migrate to the new ACP 101-1 standard for all new applicants beginning January 1, 2023. Existing certification holders can migrate their certifications to the ACP 101-1 in the future if they wish.

  1. Applicants with wind turbines having a peak power of 150 kW or less will be eligible for SWCC Small Wind Turbine Certification to ACP 101-1.
  2. For turbines with a peak power of 150 kW – 300 kW, SWCC will continue to offer services under its Medium Wind Turbine Certification program, utilizing the IEC 61400-1, IEC 61400-11 and IEC 61400-12-1 standards.

Like the previous standard, ACP 101-1 works with and references existing IEC 61400 standards for wind turbines. It has been updated to streamline the requirements for testing and certification of distributed wind turbines without sacrificing safety and quality assessment. The revisions align the standard with the latest provisions in the IEC 61400 standards and seek to segregate technical and conformity assessment provisions for greater clarity. By implementing new categories, test requirements are now clearly scaled for different sizes of small wind turbines, providing better support for segments like micro-wind turbines. Additionally, informational materials such as Appendix B have been expanded with procedures for handling turbine design modifications after certification.

For more information on certification to the new ACP 101-1 standard, contact us or visit our website at www.smallwindcertification.org

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About ICC-SRCC
The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) is a program of the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), a member of the ICC Family of Companies. ICC-SRCC provides authoritative performance ratings, certifications and standards for renewable energy products, including small and medium wind turbines under its ICC-SWCC program.

About ICC-ES
ICC-ES is the leading evaluation service for innovative building materials, components and systems. ICC-ES Evaluation Reports (ESRs), Building Product Listings and PMG Listings provide evidence that products and systems meet requirements of codes and technical standards worldwide, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and the MENA region. ICC-ES is a member of the ICC family of solutions.

FILED UNDER: NEWS

Do SWCC turbine certifications include the tower or foundation?

ICC-SWCC certifies small and medium wind turbine systems to the ACP 101-1, AWEA 9.1 and IEC 61400 standards, respectively.  Towers and foundations are outside the scope of the standards.  SWCC certification reports may provide tower and mounting information for the convenience of the user.  But this information has not been evaluated by SWCC and is provided directly from the turbine manufacturer.

FILED UNDER: APPLICANT-FAQS, CONSUMER-FAQS, FAQ

Does SWCC certify wind turbines for electrical safety?

No.  ICC-SWCC is accredited to certify wind turbines to the ACP 101-1, AWEA 9.1 and IEC 61400 standards for structural safety, durability, acoustics and power production.  Electrical safety for distributed wind turbines in North America is addressed in the UL 6142 standard.  Electrical listings may only be provided by Nationally Recognized Test Labs (NRTLs) per OSHA, for accredited standards.  Click here to access the list of NRTLs.  Note that not all NRTLs are accredited to provide listings for all standards.

FILED UNDER: APPLICANT-FAQS, CONSUMER-FAQS, FAQ

What’s the difference between testing and certification?

When a manufacturer gets a product tested by a test laboratory, it’s a one-time activity.  The test lab will test samples of the product and check that they conform to the requirements of a standard or other specification. When it is completed, the manufacturer receives a test report that indicates whether the product complied with the requirements – at the time the testing was done.

Having a product evaluated by a Certification Body (CB) goes much further. It involves evaluation of both the product itself AND the production (manufacturing) process to the requirements of a Certification Scheme. Certification Schemes are based on regional, national or international standards together with any other criteria deemed necessary by the scheme owner. Many times, the CB will utilize results of third-party testing by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory as part of the product evaluation.

Successful applicants for certification are usually granted a Certificate of Conformity and the right to use of a Certification Mark to apply to the product. The Certification Mark allows manufacturers to demonstrate that their product continues to meet the quality and safety standards required by the scheme.

The differences are summarized below.

 

Test Laboratory:

  • Tests product only
  • Tests for conformity with any requirements, which could be the manufacturer’s own specification, product standard or other
  • Issues a test report
  • One-off process, no follow-up.
  • Any subsequent changes to the product are not covered
  • Accreditation to ISO 17025 for Testing Laboratories

Certification Body:

  • Evaluates both the product and production process
  • Tests for compliance with the requirements outlined in a Certification Scheme which is based on national, regional or international standards, together with any other requirements deemed necessary by the Scheme Owner
  • If successful, issues a Certificate of Conformity and grants permission to use a Certification Mark
  • Ongoing process to demonstrate continued conformity with the scheme’s requirements
  • Accreditation to ISO 17065 for Certification Bodies
FILED UNDER: APPLICANT-FAQS, CONSUMER-FAQS, FAQ

First vertical axis turbine to successfully complete ICC-SWCC program

For Immediate Release:
July 15, 2019
www.iccsafe.org
Contact: Madison Neal
(202) 754-1173
mneal@iccsafe.org

Download PDF Version

First vertical axis turbine to successfully complete ICC-SWCC program

Hi-VAWT wind turbine awarded certification

Brea, Calif. – Hi-VAWT’s DS3000 small wind turbine is the latest model to achieve certification under the ICC-ES Small Wind Certification Council (ICC-SWCC) Small Wind Turbine (SWT) Program. It is also the first vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) to complete the rigorous ICC-SWCC certification process.

Vertical-axis turbines use a unique geometry and feature distinctive vertical blades that are arranged perpendicularly through the windstream. The Hi-VAWT DS3000 turbine has been granted certification SWCC-18-02, which demonstrates compliance with the AWEA 9.1 standard that serves as the basis of the ICC-SWCC SWT program. Hi-VAWT is based in Taiwan, and is represented in the U.S. by Colite Technologies, who submitted the turbine for certification.

The DS3000 turbine’s product information, test reports and calculations were thoroughly reviewed to confirm that all requirements of the ICC-SWCC SWT program were satisfied. The DS3000 is a 3-blade, vertical axis wind turbine with a combination Darrieus-Savonius rotor with a 3.7 m in diameter. ICC-SWCC rated its annual energy production at 2,460 kWh per year* and 1.4 kW rated power at 11 m/s wind, and a rated sound level of 42.3 dB(A)**.

“The completion of the first successful VAWT certification for a small wind turbine is an exciting development for the industry and ICC-SWCC. We congratulate Hi-VAWT and its U.S. partner, Colite Technologies, for this achievement,” said ICC Evaluation Service Vice President of Technical Services Shawn Martin. “The ICC-SWCC program provides third-party performance ratings and assurance that certified turbines have passed rigorous testing and performance requirements.”

“The Hi-VAWT Technology Corporation has been offering its turbines in the United States for nearly a decade. It is now very rewarding to finally achieve an official certification from ICC-SWCC confirming the integrity of the technology,” said Kevin O’Hara, President and CEO of Colite Technologies. “The Hi-VAWT technology is not only the sole vertical access wind turbine technology to reach this level of certification in the U.S., but also across the globe. We are extremely proud and excited to be a representing Hi-VAWT in the U.S.”

ICC-SWCC SWT certification is utilized by numerous incentive programs, regulations and codes in many states and countries, including the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC was reinstated in 2018 for small wind turbines, providing a significant, 30% tax credit for the costs of equipment and installation of wind turbines under 100 kW.

ICC-SWCC is a program of ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), the United States’ leading evaluation and certification service for innovative building and plumbing products. Building officials, architects, contractors, specifiers, designers and incentive programs utilize ICC-SWCC certifications to provide the basis for using or approving renewable energy products.

For more information, visit http://smallwindcertification.org.

* Annual energy production rating assumes average annual wind speed of 5 m/s with a Rayleigh wind speed distribution, sea level air density and 100% availability. Actual production will vary depending on site conditions.

** Assumes the sound level will not be exceeded 95% of the time assuming the wind conditions above and observed 60 m from rotor center.

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About ICC-SWCC

The Small Wind Certification Council (ICC-SWCC), a program of the ICC Evaluation Service, is accredited to certify small and medium wind turbines that meet or exceed the requirements of specified standards. Designed to promote consumer confidence and mainstream acceptance of small and medium wind technology, ICC-SWCC certification standardizes North American reporting of turbine performance.

About Colite Technologies

Colite Technologies is a company based in Columbia, South Carolina, offering distributed renewable energy power systems, renewable powered outdoor lighting, and energy efficiency upgrades for indoor and outdoor lighting systems. The company serves customers across commercial, industrial and residential markets, including public and private sectors, with its products, systems and services.

 

FILED UNDER: NEWS

IRS Issues New Guidance for Small Wind Turbines to Qualify for 30% Tax Credit

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2015-4 providing new performance and quality standards that require certification of small wind turbines – defined as having a nameplate capacity of up to 100 kW – in order to qualify for the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC).

“Certification helps consumers distinguish between the good, the bad, and the untested wind turbines on the market and helps consumers accurately compare the wide variety of products available,” explained SWCC Executive Director Larry Sherwood. Certification requirements are helping government agencies ensure that public funds spent on distributed wind installations are spent on safe, quality systems, a means of consumer protection against untested technologies, unverified claims about turbine performance, and equipment failures.

Effective for small wind turbines acquired or placed in service after January 26, 2015, the guidance requires that qualifying small wind manufacturers provide certification to either: (1) American Wind Energy Association Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard 9.1-2009 (AWEA); or (2) International Electrotechnical Commission 61400-1, 61400-12, and 61400-11 (IEC). The certification must be issued by an eligible certifier, defined as a third party that is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation or other similar accreditation body. Documentation establishing that the turbine meets the new requirements must be provided to taxpayers in order to claim the credit. SWCC certifications help manufacturers meet these new requirements.

The addition of performance and quality assurance requirements at the Federal level indicates that certification is now a trusted and useful tool in protecting consumers and helping to ensure the successful implementation of distributed wind projects in the U.S. This step is a positive move that fits into the overall strategy the distributed wind industry as a whole has been pursuing for many years to strengthen the sector’s credibility and reliability.

On April 2014 memorandum from José Zayas, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind and Water Power Technologies Office, also encourages that the use of public funds be provided only for wind turbines that have been tested and certified for safety, function, performance, and durability.

Many suppliers of distributed wind turbines have been actively pursuing certification since 2010. More than a dozen models have completed the process and several others are actively under way. These companies are well positioned to comply with the new IRS requirements. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) maintains a list of ratings of fully certified turbines for the U.S. market.

Notice 2015-4 is posted at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-15-04.pdf. The notice reminds manufacturers that an erroneous certification may result in penalties: (a) Under section 7206 for fraud and making false statements; and (b) Under section 6701 for aiding and abetting an understatement of tax liability ($1,000 per return on which a credit is claimed in reliance on the certification). To help manufacturers and taxpayers understand the new IRS requirements, SWCC will develop and publish a set of FAQs on its website.

About SWCC: SWCC certifies wind turbine models that meet or exceed the requirements of specified Standards as an independent confirmation that wind turbine designs are tested and evaluated according to industry standards for performance and safety. Designed to promote consumer confidence and mainstream acceptance of small and medium wind technology, SWCC certification standardizes North American reporting turbine energy and sound performance.

FILED UNDER: NEWS

SWCC’s Accreditation Extended to IEC Certifications

Reflecting its increased organizational scope, the Small Wind Certification Council has obtained accreditation by American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) to certify medium-sized wind turbine models, defined as newly manufactured, electricity-producing wind turbines with a swept area greater than 200 square meters (about 50 kW).

A2LA’s extension grants accreditation for SWCC’s recently expanded Wind Turbine Performance Certification program that provides certified power and acoustic performance for medium wind turbines in accordance with IEC 61400-12-1 (Power) and IEC 61400-11 (Acoustics). In 2012, the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) obtained ISO Guide 65:1996 accreditation from A2LA to certify small wind turbines to AWEA Standard 9.1-2009.

FILED UNDER: NEWS