Milestone for small wind sector as new wind turbine product achieves MCS certification
23 January 2025
The Ryse Energy G-11 wind turbine has achieved MCS certification, the first wind product to do so in more than four years.
The G-11 wind turbine, certified through the British Board of Agrément (BBA), has become the only MCS certified wind product currently on the Scheme.
We caught up with Richard Caldow, Managing Director/CEO Europe and Americas at Ryse Energy, to find out more about the G-11, its journey to certification, and what he thinks the future of the small wind sector looks like.
Can you tell us a bit more about the product that has achieved MCS certification?
The G-11 is a small wind turbine with 6.5m glass fibre blades. It’s been in operation for around 30 years now, typically used in agriculture, but is now starting to be integrated into commercial and community energy projects worldwide, thanks to features such as a low noise output, remote data-logging and control features, and robust safety measures.
Why was it important for Ryse Energy to get the G-11 MCS certified?
Certification matters to us because it matters to our clients. It assures them of the quality, reliability, and performance of our G-11 product, and opens up opportunities like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which allows our clients to earn money by exporting excess energy back to the grid.
The G-11 was actually MCS certified in the past, but over the years the certification process faced some bumps in the road due to wider challenges within the wind industry. With support from MCS and our certification body, the British Board of Agrément (BBA), we were able to navigate those hurdles and achieve a successful outcome.
What was the certification process like?
Finding a product Certification Body that assessed against the Small Wind Turbine Standard (MCS 006) was one of the key challenges, as many Certification Bodies didn’t renew their accreditation when the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme ended in 2019. Thankfully, the BBA had maintained their accreditation and supported us through the process.
The certification process can seem overwhelming at first, but it’s essential for the growth and credibility of small wind. Certification shows that investing in product testing and standards can open up new opportunities, both in the UK and internationally. It took a lot of work from our team, but the real reward is seeing our customers embrace our products as a proven solution in the UK’s transition to cleaner and greener energy.
What demand have you seen for this kind of product?
Demand for the G-11 is growing steadily as more customers prioritise energy security and recognise small wind as a reliable option. With its recent certification, we expect interest to rise further.
We’re also seeing many consumers replace aging or faulty turbines with the G-11. Importantly, for those benefiting from a feed-in tariff, using a certified replacement turbine ensures they can retain those benefits.
What do you think the future of small wind holds?
The previous governments stance on the planning process for onshore wind had a significant impact across the wider industry, making it virtually impossible for new projects to be granted approval in recent years – but thankfully those barriers have now been removed. However, more can still be done to support distributed wind in the UK. We commend MCS for taking this forward with the current lobbying to support permitted development.
Interestingly, more than half of our new enquiries are from customers looking to combine wind with their solar PV system to provide year-round energy security. Both technologies complement each other – with solar typically excelling in summer, and wind energy covering the darker, winter months. It’s this combining of multiple renewable energy sources that we believe is the future of microgeneration.
What’s next for Ryse Energy?
We are expanding our product range and portfolio, not just with small-scale wind turbines but with battery storage and solar PV to provide a larger range of quality renewable products for people’s homes and businesses. We will also be launching a new training zone in the UK specifically focused on small-scale wind turbines, to help develop the skills industry needs for the sector to grow.
Visit the MCS Data Dashboard here to see the number of certified wind installations near you.
If you’re an installer looking to become certified for small wind, you can find out more here.