A new mathematical programming approach to optimize wind farm layouts

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 63; pp. 674 - 680
• Main Authors: Turner, S.D.O., Romero, D.A., Zhang, P.Y., Amon, C.H., Chan, T.C.Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Density; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Mathematical models; Mathematical programming; Maximization; Natural energy; Optimization; Turbines; Wake effect; Wakes; Wind farm layout; Wind power; Wind farm layout; Wake effect; Optimization; Mathematical programming; Windfarm; Renewable energy; Wake
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2013.10.023

The optimal placement of turbines in a wind farm is critical to the maximization of power production. In this paper, we develop a new mathematical programming approach for wind farm layout optimization. We use Jensen's wake decay model to represent multi-turbine wake effects. We develop mixed integer linear and quadratic optimization formulations and apply them to several example layout cases in the literature. Compared to previous approaches, our models produce layouts that tend to be more symmetric and that generate slightly more power. Our formulations solve quickly, allowing a decision maker to efficiently explore the impact of different turbine densities in a wind farm.
•We develop a new math programming approach for wind farm layout optimization.•We use Jensen's wake decay model to represent multi-turbine wake effects.•We apply our models to several example layout cases in the literature.•Our layouts tend to be more symmetric and generate slightly more power.•Our models solve quickly, allowing exploration of different turbine densities.