The IEC 61400 series of standards addresses wind energy generation technical requirements up to the point of interconnection with the utility grid system. The IEC 61400-50 series of standards comprises a sub-set of standards which specify the requirements for equipment and methods to be used in the measurement of the wind.

Wind measurements are required as inputs to various tests and analyses specified in other use-case standards in the IEC 61400 series (e.g. power performance, resource assessment, noise measurement). Whereas those other standards define use-cases for wind measurements, the IEC 61400-50 series sets those wind measurement requirements which are independent of the use-case. Its purpose is to ensure that wind measurements and the evaluation of uncertainties in those measurements are carried out consistently across the wind industry and that wind measurements are carried out such that the uncertainties can be quantified and that those uncertainties are within an acceptable range.

This document provides a general introduction to the options that are available for wind measurement, which are further detailed in the other parts of the IEC 61400-50 series.