OptiWITS : a unique software solution to identify optimized wind farm designs

© GreenWITS
Context

Wind farm design is a multifaceted process that involves numerous steps, each with its own set of objectives and constraints. This complexity becomes even more pronounced in large-scale projects, particularly offshore, where design iterations occur throughout various stages of the project life cycle. In the early stages, critical information such as asset details and wind resource data may be limited. However, as the project progresses, valuable data including geotechnical information, measured wind distributions, and cost estimates from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) become available.
Additionally, constraints established during tender phases, such as environmental and alignment factors, further shape the design considerations. Regardless of the project stage, optimizing the layout of wind farms remains paramount. It directly influences the future performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of the entire park.

GreenWITS Solutions

GreenWITS presents OptiWITS, a holistic and unique software solution, enabling the identification of technically and economically optimized wind farm layouts that align with all project constraints.
Leveraging patented mathematical optimization algorithms and a suite of physics-based modeling tools, OptiWITS provides a comprehensive evaluation of performance and economics while considering all problem constraints. By incorporating wakes and electrical losses calculations, our software accurately assesses Annual Energy Production (AEP) for various layouts and identifies optimal designs based on user-defined optimization objectives.
The wake simulations within OptiWITS utilizes an exceptionally fast software that encompasses standard engineering models as well as proprietary models calibrated on extensive datasets and Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) results. Electrical losses, especially related to the Inter-Array-Cable (IAC) layout, can also be estimated. This enables efficient evaluation of both wake and electrical energy losses, ensuring accurate AEP calculations.

OptiWITS fast wakes simulation & optimization algorithms
© IFPEN courtesy

With OptiWITS, you can define several objectives, including :

  • maximizing AEP,
  • minimizing Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE),
  • maximizing Net Present Value (NPV) of the project.
SOLUTION RANKED 1ST IN IEA WIND TASK 37 BENCHMARK
© IFPEN courtesy
OptiWITS is capable of accounting for a wide range of constraints, including :
Complex areas with non-connected and convex topographies.
Exclusion areas due to geotechnical and environmental constraints or competitive usage.
Alignment constraints.
Mechanical load constraints on wind farm components.

OptWITS additional features

Additionally, in areas with varying water depths and location-dependent foundations, OptiWITS can optimize layouts considering the cost variation of the foundation, providing a globally optimized layout. Specific features tailored to floating wind projects are also integrated into our solution :

  • mooring and cable constraints,
  • floating turbine power curves.

OptiWITS can be connected with external software and incorporates libraries of existing and future wind turbines. Whether you need quick designs for early-stage wind farm development or fully optimized layouts when all information is available, OptiWITS empowers you to unlock the full potential of your wind energy projects.
OptiWITS can be accessed either through dedicated service studies conducted by our wind farm design experts or directly through our software as a service (SaaS) solution.

Customer Benefits

Over 1% AEP gain /LCOE reduction (experience from several case studies)

Months of engineering savings

Discover our suite of digital solutions to optimize value of your wind projects
TURBINE AND FOUNDATION ENGINEERING
Benefit from our specialized services in turbine and foundation engineering. Our experts utilizes simulations tools coupled with advanced mathematical & aerodynamics models to guide you through the design and engineering process.
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DIGITAL MONITORING
Gain valuable insights into the performance and structural health of your assets with our digital monitoring solution. By combining data sciences and physics-based models, we extract key performance indicators and monitor the health of your assets.
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WIND FARM CONTROL
Optimize the performance of your wind farms with our collaborative control approach. Based on the wake steering concept, our control system enables significant gains in Annual Energy Production (AEP) while maintaining the integrity of your assets.
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