Qualifications Needed by Certified Verification Agents - Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Turbines - page 108

good engineering judgment. Given the range of activities required for each
of the phases, it is clear that to perform the role of a CVA competently,
those involved and certainly the person in charge of the process must have
direct experience with the activities of that phase.
Wind Turbine Project Certification
As described in Chapter 3, project certification is a process used to ensure
that the equipment and supporting structure are adequate for conditions
at the site and meet the site's requirements. It involves monitoring of
activities during manufacturing, transportation, installation, and com-
missioning. Project certification also considers the life cycle of the facil-
ity and includes provisions for periodic monitoring, inspection, and
maintenance.
The qualifications for a certification agent vary with the regulator in
the area where the wind turbines are to be installed. In some cases, there
is no regulatory requirement for project certification, but the operator
or developer may need certification to obtain financing or for other
reasons. In these cases, certification is generally provided by an orga-
nization, such as Germanischer Lloyd or Det Norske Veritas, that has
developed its own set of guidelines for designing, installing, and main-
taining wind turbine facilities. The organization will certify that the
project has met its guidelines and any local jurisdictional requirements.
Other organizations, such as Bureau Veritas, that have not developed
their own guidelines may also provide certification. In such cases, the
qualification for the certifier is its institutional knowledge of the topic
through development of detailed guidelines and through its work with
the industry.
As described in Chapter 3, where such certification is required, it is
typically provided by an organization that has been accredited to pro-
vide these services. For instance, the German Federal Maritime and
Hydrographic Agency accredits organizations to provide certification
on projects in Germany. Accreditation is based on evaluations of
professional competence, independence, impartiality, and integrity.
Accreditation is generally valid for a period of time, after which the
review process is repeated to ensure that the organization remains in
compliance.