KIER: Path Opens for Exporting Domestic Wind Power Systems

The path for exporting domestically produced wind power systems has opened.

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (hereinafter referred to as KIER) announced on July 31 that it has been accredited as an internationally recognized Renewable Energy Testing Laboratory (RETL) in the wind power sector by the International Electrotechnical Commission for Renewable Energy (IECRE), thereby gaining the opportunity to export domestic wind power systems.

An external field inspection of the wind power generation system is underway. Photo by Korea Institute of Energy Research

IECRE is a certification system under the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), an international standardization organization. It evaluates and certifies technologies and equipment related to renewable energy?such as solar, wind, and marine energy?according to unified international standards. RETL refers to an institution within the IECRE certification system that is authorized to test the performance, safety, and reliability of renewable energy facilities in accordance with IEC standards. Test reports issued by such institutions are mutually recognized among IECRE member countries.

Before obtaining RETL certification, domestic wind power systems relied on overseas testing institutions. Even though test reports issued by the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) were available, foreign countries required test reports issued by RETL. The problem was that obtaining test reports from RETL entailed significant time and cost, and there were concerns about the potential leakage of domestic wind power technology design information and data to overseas institutions during performance testing.

To address these issues, KIER established a new system that meets international standards and succeeded in obtaining RETL accreditation from IECRE for the output performance and mechanical load measurement sectors of wind power systems.

Testing for output performance and mechanical load measurement are essential certification items for wind power systems. Since actual wind power systems installed outdoors must withstand harsh measurement environments for over a year, considerable expertise is required from the installation of measurement systems to long-term data management.

In particular, the mechanical load measurement test is a core test to verify the structural safety of wind power systems. It precisely measures the loads occurring in key components such as blades, main shafts, and towers under various operating conditions.

This process requires advanced data analysis techniques, including time-series loads, frequency response characteristics, and fatigue loads. It is also considered a challenging area to pass due to the application of stringent standards.

Previously, KIER had been recognized as an internationally accredited testing institution by the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme. However, to enhance competitiveness in the global wind power market, obtaining RETL accreditation was necessary. To this end, KIER has improved its measurement systems and advanced its testing infrastructure, while also fully revising related guidelines and test analysis programs to respond to the latest testing items.

Going forward, KIER plans to conduct performance testing so that domestic companies and research institutions can directly utilize high-quality IECRE system-based testing services, and to support the growth of indigenous technologies in Korea.

Son Eunguk, head of the Wind Power Research Division at KIER, said, "From now on, test reports issued by KIER will also be mutually recognized in overseas markets," adding, "This will lower entry barriers for domestic wind power systems in international markets and help enhance product reliability."