Development of a design tool for offshore wind farm layout optimization
Consideration of wake effects and electrical infrastructure costs and losses
F. Borbón Guillén
M.B. Zaaijer – Mentor
G.J.W. van Bussel – Mentor
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Abstract
A design tool has been developed with the aim of helping in the wind farm design process. The tool is able to handle rectangular layouts with any number of turbines. Wind farm power, as well as wind and site conditions can be specified by the user. The main tool models are described and the developing steps have been detailed. Results of tool functionality are presented and compared with other tools or real case studies. The two modes of operation are explained: the separation distance sweep mode and the optimization function mode. Besides, the advantage and limitations of the optimization mode are indicated. The main lessons learnt during the developing of this tool are described for each developing stage. The most relevant is that the optimum layout dimensions should be found using the separation distance sweep mode rather than the optimization function. As a main conclusion, the implemented design tool can be helpful for the design process of offshore wind farms. The tool allows the user to define turbine, wind and site conditions and wind farm layout properties. Based on these properties, the tool delivers the optimum layout dimensions considering the effects of wake losses and electrical cable losses and costs. Additional conclusions and recommendations are summarized together with some future work possibilities.