Optimisation of wind plant sector management for energy and loads

Wake flows and turbine dynamics mean that wind farms are very complex physical systems. This paper presents a simplified engineering model which allows advanced wind plant sector management to be rapidly optimised, trading off energy production and turbine loading to minimise the cost of energy. A simple illustrative case study indicates the scope for significant benefits compared to doing nothing or simply turning off the most wake-affected turbines. The method also allows grid ancillary service provision such as curtailment to be managed for minimum fatigue load accumulation.