Integrated turbine and cable layout optimization for floating offshore wind farms: A techno-economic assessment

This study presents a multi-domain optimization framework to address trade-offs between aerodynamic wake recovery and capital expenditures associated with turbines and dynamic cable systems for floating offshore wind farm (FOWF) layout optimization. To integrate and resolve the competing demands of maximizing energy extraction while minimizing the cost associated with inter-array cable routing, a coupled optimization procedure is employed. This approach integrates advanced wake modeling (PyWake), optimized inter-array cable routing (Edwin), and a specialized system cost model, accounting for both static and dynamic cable sections specific to floating offshore wind turbine design. Utilizing TOPFARM as the optimization driver, the methodology facilitates an iterative, objective-driven search to evaluate various turbine positions based on the internal rate of return (IRR). The methodology is implemented using a random search algorithm to develop optimal layouts for two distinct turbine concepts, 5 MW and 15 MW floating turbines, at an intermediate water depth site. The results demonstrate that strategic turbine placement and efficient cable network design yield a 0.8% increase in IRR for the optimal configuration, and the 15 MW turbine scenario achieves a 6.0% higher IRR compared to the 5 MW case. This study formulates wind farm layout optimization directly using IRR as the objective function and explicitly couples wake effects, array cable routing, and floating-specific cost components within each optimization iteration, providing a practical and scalable framework for improving the economic viability of future FOWF developments.