Wind Turbine Standards and Certification: A Global Framework for Reliability and Performance

Abstract

In recent years, the combined effects of climate change and recurring energy supply risks have pushed many countries to reconsider the way they produce and manage electricity. As a result, an increasing number of energy systems are moving away from conventional fossil fuels and turning toward a more diverse mix that includes renewables, particularly wind energy. The expansion of this sector, however, depends not only on technological progress butt also on the presence of reliable standards and certification procedures. These frameworks play an essential role in verifying that wind turbines operate safely and continue to perform throughout their expected lifetime. Within this context, the IEC 61400 standard series occupy a central place. The present study focuses on how this series is structured, what technical issues it covers, and how it is applied in different parts of the world. A special emphasis is given to IEC 61400-1, which outlines design load assumptions, fundamental safety concepts, and the turbine classification system. Additionally, the study discusses Tukey’s domestic content incentives under the Renewable Energy Support Mechanism (YEKDEM) and evaluates how these incentives interact with international certification requirements.