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Netherlands), Enercon (Germany), Carter (USA), Enertech (USA).
Concept wise these designs were very innovative (passive blade
control, variable rotation speed drive systems, flexible elements
in the blade hub connection). In Denmark members of the
Smedemesterforeningen (Danish Blacksmiths' Association), among
many other pioneers, built small grid-connected turbines mostly
according to the proven “Danish design”, which featured fixed
pitched blades, constant speed induction generators and (passive)
stall control. Companies like Vestas, Bonus, NEG and Micon emerged
from this pioneering work. In the early 1980s in Denmark alone
some 30 companies were active on the market and in the
Netherlands more than 20.
In Denmark, the Netherlands, the USA and Germany test
stations for small and medium-size wind turbines were built to
test industrial turbine types under field conditions. The intention
was to support manufacturers in marketing their products by
providing evidence of reliability and energy efficiency of their
machines.
After consultation of our colleagues at Risø (DK) and
Pellworm (D), at the Energy Research Centre (ECN) we launched the
Informal Meetings of Test Stations (IMTS) network. The objective
was to improve testing procedures, develop codes of practice and
improve exchangeability of test results between test stations. The
industry, which was more and more acting on the international
market, required one internationally recognised test certificate.
The IMTS network quickly grew by memberships from Canada,
France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Sweden,
Russia and other countries.
The IMTS network was very fruitful and, primarily with the
support of the European Commission, the work among others
resulted in recommended practices for measuring procedures
[published by the International Energy Association (IEA) and
inputs for standards which were issued by the IEC. Another
important result of the collaboration of test stations was the
acceptance of MEASNET (Network of European Measuring
Institutes), a self-imposed set of quality measures that test stations
are obliged to meet in order to use the MEASNET quality brand.
This system, created with support from the EC, is still being used
in the present market and both public and private testing
laboratories seek MEASNET accreditation before entering the
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