Multi-objective optimization of a uniformly distributed offshore wind farm considering both economic factors and visual impact

Abstract

The investment profitability is the strongest economic driver when deciding the location, and optimizing the orientation and layout of a wind power plant. However, and despite of their usual good social acceptance, wind farms must overcome the displeasure of some neighbouring residents, mainly due to the natural landscape alteration. Optimization algorithms must consider the techno-economic aspect, but also the expected visual impact. Unfortunately, there is a lack of objective indicators to quantify it.

Three are the main contributions of this paper. First, it introduces an innovative method of assessing the visual impact of an offshore wind farm, integrated in a optimization algorithm.

Secondly, it explains a method to speed up the annual energy production, allowing the algorithm to optimize the wind farm site and layout within an unlimited space, with unlimited number of turbines, and considering seabed characteristics, depth and cable prices.

Finally, it presents a multi-objective optimization algorithm based on Pareto fronts. With this, a set of optimal solutions has been obtained taking into account the conflicting relationship between profitability and visual impact. The analysis of the optimal solutions also provides the designer with valuable guidelines on the characteristics that the projected wind farm should have.