Optimization of Offshore Wind Farms Configuration Minimizing the Wake Effect

Abstract

Currently, there has been a great development of the wind energy market, which is accompanied by an increase in the number of wind farms at sea, the offshore wind farms. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that efficiency in energy production is maximum and that the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is minimal. In this paper, a mixed-integer linear programming model (MILP) is proposed to find the best wind farm layout taking into account the wake effect in order to maximize energy production. The design of an offshore wind farm located at the North Sea is considered as a case study, contemplating three situations regarding the number of wind turbines to be installed and to determine the best positioning of them in order to maximize energy production, taking into account the wake effect and the lowest LCOE.