New global standard for wind power launches
Green energy news - by GreenWise staff
14th October 2011
Companies and organisations that procure and use wind energy as part of their operations can now benefit from a new global standard certifying companies and products that consume wind power.
The
WindMade standard aims to provide credible and transparent information quantifying the consumption of electricity generated from wind energy and other renewable sources, thereby encouraging greater corporate responsibility and investment in wind power and driving up demand for products that embrace the green energy source. The new standard is backed by organisations including
WWF,
Vestas Wind Systems and the
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
"Many companies are committed to switching to green power, driven by strong consumer demand for sustainable and responsible corporations," said Henrik Kuffner, WindMade’s ceo. "However, to date, these forward-looking companies did not have the possibility of receiving an independent global certification for their power procurement. WindMade will now fill this gap, and provide consumers with the transparency they require to make informed choices."
Label criteria
Any organisation with an electricity consumption making up at least 20 per cent of its total energy consumption, can become a member of the WindMade scheme, but companies that want to display the label have to source a minimum of 25 per cent of their electricity consumption from wind power. The wind energy share can be procured through a company-owned wind power generation facility, a long-term Power Purchase Agreement for wind power, or the purchase of high quality Renewable Energy Certificates approved by WindMade.
Other renewable energy sources can also be communicated as a part of the label, but will not count towards qualification.
"The criteria set out by the standard will ensure that companies using the WindMade label will contribute to more investment in renewables over and above what would be built anyway and hence boost clean power," said Samantha Smith, director of the WWF Global Energy and Climate Network Initiative.
Products certification
A version of the WindMade label is currently being developed for products, with plans for the first WindMade products to be on the shelves by early 2012.
An event unveiling the first companies and brands to become WindMade certified is set to take place in New York on November 18.
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