Indian wind energy sector has been developing into the main stream of industrial activity with active participation of the private sector. About seventeen wind turbine manufacturers are offering forty wind turbine models for installation in India. An Indian wind turbine certification scheme viz., Type Approval - Provisional Scheme was developed by NIWE with the technical assistance of RISO National Laboratory, Denmark (presently known as DTU, Denmark). The TAPS 2000, which was the first of its kind certification scheme for wind turbines, was approved and issued by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and is being implemented by NIWE. In addition, NIWE has been involved in preparation of Indian Standards on wind turbines and providing technical support to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been issuing the guidelines for Wind Power Projects to streamline the development and facilitate healthy and orderly growth of the Wind Power Sector in the country. Based on the directives from MNRE, NIWE had issued Revised List of Models and Manufacturers of wind turbines (RLMM) periodically during the period 2001-2016. NIWE is also facilitating the installation of prototype wind turbine models by implementation of the MNRE guidelines.

1. Standards:

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the National Standards Body which issues Indian Standards. A committee viz., Wind Turbine Sectional Committee (ETD 42) has been formulated by BIS for the preparation of Indian standards on wind turbines, under the Chairmanship of Director General, NIWE. S&R division, which is a part of BIS ET 42 committee, provides the technical support to BIS in all the standards related works including IEC/IECRE standards by providing voting recommendations.

2. Prototype Wind Turbines:

MNRE has issued the guidelines on installation of prototype wind turbine models in India to facilitate the installation of Prototype wind turbine models in India to carry out the Type Testing for obtaining Type Certification and to carry out the developmental works. The guidelines are being implemented by S&R division, NIWE by verification of the documentation on the prototype wind turbine models provided by various wind turbine manufacturers and issuing the recommendation letters in connection with grid synchronisation of prototype wind turbine models.

3. Revised List of Models and Manufacturers of wind turbines (RLMM):

As per MNRE guidelines, RLMM lists are being issued by MNRE periodically, based on the documentation/information provided by various wind turbine manufacturers. S&R division provides the technical support to MNRE in issuing RLMM.

• An Indian wind turbine certification scheme for wind turbines, which was the first of its kind viz., TAPS 2000 has been prepared by NIWE with technical assistance of RISO National Laboratory, Denmark (presently known as DTU, Denmark). The scheme has been approved and issued by MNRE.
• Based on the technical support provided by NIWE, seven Indian Standards on wind turbines have been finalised and accepted by ETD 42 committee of BIS.
• Recommendation letters, in connection with grid synchronisation have been issued for 22 prototype wind turbine models with a rated capacity ranging from 750kW to 2800 kW so far.
• Based on the directives from MNRE, NIWE issued the RLMM lists periodically during the period from 2001 to 2016.

NIWE prepared a comprehensive certification scheme viz., Indian Wind Turbine Certification Scheme (IWTCS), which is the first of its kind covering various aspects of certification till the disposal of wind turbines. The scheme covers Prototype Certification & Type Certification for wind turbines; Project Certification, Failure reporting of installed wind turbines, Safety and Performance assessment and De-commissioning & Safe Disposal of the wind turbines considering the relevant National and International Standards (IS/IEC/IECRE) and guidelines.

The draft IWTCS has been submitted to MNRE and MNRE has uploaded the document in the website for the stakeholders/public comments. The comments have been received from various stakeholders/public by MNRE. The review of comments of the stakeholders is under progress.