Wind Farm Layout Optimization Problem Using Nature-Inspired Algorithms

The wind farm layout optimization problem (WFLOP) is a significant problem in the field of renewable energy. In this development of wind farm, solving the WFLOP is a crucial task, which entails placing the turbines in the wind farm in the best locations to reduce wake effects and enhance predicted power generation. In recent decades, the WFLOP problem has been solved mathematically. Meanwhile, the growing load demand led to an increase in the complexity of WFLOP. The results obtained by mathematical methods were not accurate enough to suit complexity of WFLOP. Nowadays, researchers from a variety of fields are developing nature-inspired algorithms (NIAs) to solve difficult real-world problems. This study is an attempt to review the most important innovations in the field of NIAs to solve the WFLOP problem. The classification of the reviewed literature is based on different applied approaches and models. In addition to specific proposals, the advantages and disadvantages of certain domains are also discussed. This study provides a future direction to the fellow researchers who are working in the field of WFLOP.