A preference-based multi-objective model for wind farm design layout optimization

This paper is based on integrating the decision maker preferences in the wind farm design layout optimization problem through a multi-criteria decision making method. This integration allows obtaining the realistic and optimal wind farm layout that response appropriately to decision maker preferences. For that an overall desirability index is used and evaluated as the main fitness function to seek for the appropriate solution with the best trade-off between the wind farm design objectives. It combines the power production and wind farm cost that are normalized and weighted according to decision maker preferences using desirability function and aggregation operator. The optimization of overall desirability index under realistic conditions of Horns-rev1 wind farm is performed using genetic algorithm. The results obtained from computing and comparing several case studies reveals that designing wind farm layout with a specific size, number and different hub heights of wind turbines gives the best results compared with the traditional design layouts with an overall satisfaction of 0.67. It demonstrates also that a preference-based multi-objective interactive model proposed for wind farm design layout optimization provides a useful tool for wind farm designers to seek for the adequacy level of a wind farm design layout solution and therefore the trade-off ensured between the contradictory objectives expected to satisfy simultaneously.