Multi-objective optimization of energy generation and noise propagation: A hybrid approach

Various methodologies have been proposed to optimally place wind turbines inside a wind farm to extract maximum energy. However it is highly likely, that these layouts come in the proximity of human habitation leading to a negative impact on their health by creating noise, visual impact, electromagnetic interference etc. Compared to others, noise has become an important point of concern for wind farm owners, which limits the number of turbines to be erected in a wind farm satisfying its mandatory noise limits. In this study, wind farm layout optimization (WFLO) is performed by considering a trade-off between energy and noise generated in a wind farm. A novel hybrid methodology is proposed to carry out a multi-objective optimization between maximized energy and minimized noise level value. Proposed hybrid methodology is a combination of multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (NSGA-II) followed by a single objective gradient approach to solve a series of integer and continuous problem formulations. Results of a generated Pareto Optimal (PO) front provide an alternative solution of Energy - Noise trade-off along with an additional information on corresponding optimum number of turbines and their optimal location coordinates, which leaves a designer with ample of choices to make in between optimal turbine number as well as two objectives.