Reference case: Component Evaluation for Hybrid Tower - Germany

A leading manufacturer of wind turbines, ENERCON has installed over 20,000 wind turbines in more than 30 countries. The growing wind-energy market demands onshore wind turbines to be extremely productive, requiring higher towers and hubs to catch faster, more powerful winds. Design and components for high towers such as E-82 E2/BF/97/20/05 and E-82 E3/ BF/97/20/05 must be certified and tower foundations must be tested and approved. The tower foundation evaluation thereby guarantees reliable and safe constructions according to advanced new technology.

To gain certification of its modern hybrid towers in Germany, ENERCON first required extensive component design evaluation followed by complete design assessment by a Certification Body for wind turbines to confirm compliance and conformity with design specifications. After good collaboration in these project phases, ENERCON asked TÜV Rheinland to further evaluate the tower, flat foundations, pile foundation and the foundation cover.

The ENERCON project involved 5 TÜV Rheinland LGA Nuremberg experts, specifically chosen for their commitment to safety, their extensive knowledge and experience of the wind energy industry and their excellent reputation on the market.

In order to gain approval of the new tower design according to advanced technology, we evaluated tower design, foundations and foundation cover to provide final evaluation reports according to the international IEC 61400-22 regulation standard.

Therefore, we conducted flat foundation evaluations with and without Buoyancy, pile foundation evaluation and assessed foundation cover safety. An evaluation report was then presented to ENERCON together with a design certificate of conformity.

TÜV Rheinland supported ENERCON by providing:

• Fast response and prompt delivery of services in accordance with time constraints.

• Official Certification Body Accreditation.

• Skilled experts in design evaluations and verification of static and dynamic calculations.

Founded 140 years ago, TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent inspection services, ensuring quality and safety for people, the environment, and technology in nearly all aspects of life.

We inspect technical equipment , products and services, oversee projects and help to shape processes for companies around the world. Since 2006, we have been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption.

In the wind energy sector, we provide a comprehensive service portfolio, covering every aspect of wind energy projects - from site selection, design and manufacturing support to dismantling plants.