An Integer Programming Approach to wind farm layout optimization

Specialeforsvar ved Ida Mortensen

Titel: An Integer Programming Approach to Wind Farm Layout Optimization

Abstract: The layout for a wind turbine farm is of great interest for energy companies. The thesis is developed in the purpose of constructing the best design of a future wind turbine farm in cooperation with the Norwegian company, Markedslappen A/S. The layout has two problems to consider: the Wind Farm Layout Optimization Problem (WFLOP) and the Infrastructure Optimization Problem (IOP). Both is solved by integer programming (IP)and the wake effect is included in the WFLOP. It is custom to optimizing the positions first and thereafter optimizing the infrastructure. The models are compared and the results shows that it can be beneficial to make an combined optimization of the two problems. Furthermore, since the IOP has much in common with the typically 'Minimum Cost Network Flow problem', it is possible to solve the IOP with the use of linear programming (LP). Therefore Benders' algorithm is introduced to see if the algorithm is a better solution method to the full model (Benders' model 1). This is not the case. Furthermore an additional optimality cut is presented (Benders' model 2), this cut is valid since the master problem contains binary variables, leaving the whole problem integer. The thesis shows that Benders' algorithm can be used on a grid including a large number of nodes. Keywords: Integer Programming, Wind Turbine Farm , Wake Effect, Infrastructure, Benders' Algorithm 

Vejleder: Trine Krogh Boomsa
Censor:   Pierre Pinson, DTU