Global optimization of wake steering for large-scale wind farms using generalized serial refinement method

Wake steering through active yaw control has proven to be highly effective for enhancing power generation in wind farms. However, identifying optimal yaw angles for each turbine in large-scale wind farms presents a challenging high-dimensional, non-linear optimization problem. This study introduces the Generalized Serial-Refine (GSR) method, a novel deterministic algorithm capable of finding global optima. Building upon the existing Serial-Refine method, the proposed GSR method incorporates a refined angle selection and supports flexible multi-pass optimization, enabling more thorough exploration of the solution space. Through comprehensive benchmarking against seven established optimization approaches, including gradient-based methods, gradient-free techniques, and hybrid approaches, the GSR method demonstrates superior performance in two representative wind farm configurations, achieving the highest power gains while maintaining high computational efficiency. Theoretical analysis confirms the method’s convergence properties and global optimality guarantees. By performing systematic parametric sensitivity analysis, best practices for choosing the parameters in the GSR algorithm are provided. Beyond algorithmic contributions, this work provides the first quantitative assessment of environmental wind conditions on yaw control efficacy. The wind direction exerts a more significant influence than wind speed on the effectiveness of yaw optimization, as it plays a dominant role in determining the spatial distribution of turbine wakes. Additionally, a positive correlation is identified between yaw-augmented power gains and baseline wake losses. This establishes wake loss magnitude as a reliable predictor for yaw control potential. This research not only introduces an advanced tool for wind farm wake management but also provides insights for tailoring yaw strategies to diverse environmental conditions, ultimately improving the efficiency of large-scale wind farms.