Wind Farm Layout Optimization (WindFLO) : An advanced framework for fast wind farm analysis and optimization

A new framework for Wind Farm Layout Optimization (WindFLO) is developed to accelerate the design of wind farms. The framework provides a large set of analytical wake models and wake superposition schemes. It is able to take into account terrain elevation and the ambient wind velocity profile. The schemes in the WindFLO model were validated against experimental data from a wind tunnel to within 1% relative error. A turbine rotor diameter and height dependent cost model was also developed using data from 250 different wind turbines. A land usage model was also developed using the convex hull approach. The framework was used to optimize a wind farm layout for maximum annual energy production using real wind farm terrain and conditions. The nonlinear optimization problem was solved using a robust Single-Objective Hybrid Optimizer. The wind farm layout and wind turbine (rotor diameter and tower height) were optimized and resulted in increased annual energy production, reduced cost and reduced land usage. The WindFLO framework is made publicly available to accelerate and advance the techniques for wind farm optimization.