SGS Becomes Member of Swiss Wind Energy Association ‘Suisse Eole’

In September 2010, SGS successfully became a member of Suisse Eole, an association for the promotion of wind energy in Switzerland. For the first time in its capacity as a Suisse Eole member, SGS took part in the meeting of the association held on September 14th, 2010 in Bern. During the one-day event SGS held an informative presentation on Site Assessment for Wind Farms and presented its wide portfolio of renewable energy services to the key market players in the wind energy sector in Switzerland.

Suisse Eole (Only available in German), founded in 1998, aims at improving the site-specific framework for wind energy in Switzerland, both ensuring project quality and providing information on the advantages of wind energy. Moreover, one of its objectives is to produce around 1,500 GWh of wind energy, which represents 2.5% of the current electricity consumption in Switzerland. Suisse Eole connects the wind energy sector and focuses primarily on electricity companies, government agencies, consultants, investors and environmental organizations.

In order to exchange experience and knowledge with professional companies in the wind energy sector in Switzerland, SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, successfully applied for the membership in Suisse Eole, being accepted in September 2010.

As a Suisse Eole member, SGS has a unique opportunity to be actively involved in the approval and development process of wind energy in Switzerland as well as to attend vital meetings organized by the association.

On September 14, 2010, in its new capacity as member, SGS took part in the Suisse Eole meeting in Bern. During the one-day event SGS experts held a presentation on Site Assessment for Wind Farms with a special focus on energy yield calculation, wind farm planning and optimization, as well as issues of complex terrain conditions, noise, shadow flicker as well as the risk of ice throw from wind turbines.

With Site Assessment for Wind Farms, SGS Renewable Energy ensures that all site-specific requirements are taken into consideration during the design phase of a wind farm project. Based on its extensive experience and competence in the wind energy sector, SGS ensures that the project’s wind turbines and their support structures perform well at the specific site chosen and SGS also evaluates site characteristics with respect to wind speed, landscape character, environmental designations as well as distance from infrastructure, owners, operators, investors, and developers. The ultimate objective of Wind Farm Site Assessment is to facilitate overall project development by ensuring viability, economic soundness and site optimization during wind farm project development.

Attendees of the meeting had a unique chance to learn about problems and critical issues which can emerge during the initial development phase of a wind farm project as well as the thorough verification and optimization of any technical and financial issues provided by SGS.

SGS attendance at the meeting proved to be very well received, as SGS presented its wide array of renewable energy services to the key market players in Switzerland. SGS membership of Suisse Eole provides a perfect opportunity for SGS to enter the Swiss wind energy market and forge new business partnerships.

About SGS Renewable Energy Services

To protect wind energy project investments and assure the quality of wind farms, SGS Renewable Energy works as an independent global project surveyor carrying out inspection, testing, supervision, monitoring, management, verification and certification services for both onshore and offshore wind farm projects.

For each phase of a wind farm project, the SGS Renewables Support Office offers a wide range of renewable energy services. SGS understands the risks involved in undertaking a wind farm project and prides itself on its knowledge of the local legal framework and regulatory requirements.

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Source: sgs, October 29, 2010;