DNV is revising industry standards for next-generation wind blades

DNV led the initiative that led to the revision of the DNV-ST-0376 rotor blade standard in response to the dynamic development of wind turbines. This update, the result of joint industry collaboration, marks a milestone in improving reliability and safety in the wind energy sector.

In the rapidly evolving field of wind turbine technology, increased reliability standards are crucial to keep pace with advances. Adapted to the changing needs of wind turbine developers, owners and operators, the goal of the project was to ensure greater reliability and efficiency across the industry. By focusing on the unique requirements for large, flexible blades for multi-megawatt turbines, the revised standard introduces comprehensive measures not previously included in industry standards.

“The pace of development of modern wind turbines requires that industry standards keep pace with changing trends and technologies. Through the development of industry service documents such as service specifications, standards and recommended practices, DNV is actively involved in the development of the renewable energy sector. This update underlines our commitment to innovation and quality in the wind energy sector,” adds Kim Sandgaard-Mørk, Executive Vice President for Renewable Energy Certification at DNV. “By prioritizing reliability and safety, our goal is to increase industry confidence and support the global transition towards sustainable energy solutions.”

“Not all wind turbine blades are created equal,” says Christopher Harrison, principal engineer and service line leader for component certification in DNV’s Energy Systems division. “Different design assumptions and methods, along with varying performance during validation testing, can result in different blade performance over their lifetime. As stakeholders in the wind energy sector, it is critical that we understand and mitigate these risks.”

During the project, 26 leading companies in the wind turbine sector, including manufacturers, operators and certification bodies, contributed to the refinement and review of the standard. This inclusive approach provides a comprehensive framework that addresses the diverse needs of the industry ecosystem.

Key features of the updated standard include:

• Increased reliability thanks to stringent requirements and approach.
• Alignment with international standards, helping to streamline certification processes.
• Introducing innovative concepts such as fault tolerance, raising safety standards to a new level.
• Greater emphasis on design for manufacturing and understanding the relationship between manufacturing quality and reliability.

Unlike previous standards that focused solely on safety, DNV-ST-0376 sets a new benchmark by considering reliability as a fundamental principle. The initiative focused on three key areas:

1. Quality Design Standard: DNV has updated the DNV-ST-0376 blade standard to address real-world failure modes and defects in large, flexible blades in multi-megawatt turbines.
2. Alignment with other international standards: Where possible, DNV has aligned the requirements of DNV-ST-0376 with IEC 61400-5, with input from other certification bodies.
3. Stakeholder education: DNV conducted seminars in Hamburg, Copenhagen and Shanghai to educate developers, owners and operators on the relationship between design assumptions, test results and long-term blade functionality, enabling informed decision-making in the turbine certification process.

“Our goal was to provide wind turbine stakeholders with the tools and knowledge necessary to deal with the complex issues associated with blade development,” concludes Christopher Harrison. “By working together on this joint industry project, we could make improvements to standards that would benefit the entire industry.”

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