A novel binary genetic differential evolution optimization algorithm for wind layout problems

Abstract

This paper addresses the increasingly critical issue of environmental optimization in the context of rapid economic development, with a focus on wind farm layout optimization. As the demand for sustainable resource management, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation rises, so does the complexity of managing environmental impacts and promoting sustainable practices. Wind farm layout optimization, a vital subset of environmental optimization, involves the strategic placement of wind turbines to maximize energy production and minimize environmental impacts. Traditional methods, such as heuristic approaches, gradient-based optimization, and rule-based strategies, have been employed to tackle these challenges. However, they often face limitations in exploring the solution space efficiently and avoiding local optima. To advance the field, this study introduces LSHADE-SPAGA, a novel algorithm that combines a binary genetic operator with the LSHADE differential evolution algorithm, effectively balancing global exploration and local exploitation capabilities. This hybrid approach is designed to navigate the complexities of wind farm layout optimization, considering factors like wind patterns, terrain, and land use constraints. Extensive testing, including 156 instances across different wind scenarios and layout constraints, demonstrates LSHADE-SPAGA’s superiority over seven state-of-the-art algorithms in both the ability of jumping out of the local optima and solution quality.