Global offshore wind is now a matured industry and the use of standardization and certification has a significant role in lowering costs, mitigate technical risks, increase confidence level for financial investors and set clear expectations by all stakeholders. The global offshore market has been rapidly expanding and calls for a stronger and broader cooperation towards the further development of international standards. The development of international standards and their adoption at the national level is also essential. Turbines and offshore technology in India face different conditions than in the North Sea of Europe. Climatic conditions differ with varying monsoon seasons, higher temperature requirements and not least seismic tolerance in specific areas.
However, while technical requirements in standards should reflect local market conditions, the industry would benefit from having these conditions internationally standardized for maximizing economies of scale, while reducing costs for the development of offshore wind. Thus, it is important that local conditions and effects are well incorporated in international standards driven by a close collaboration by well-established and emerging offshore wind markets.
In so, test centres for offshore wind turbines and/or components can represent a solid opportunity for testing and certifying future offshore wind turbines according to international standards and for testing equipment under specific local conditions.