Maximizing wind energy production with the multi-unit optimization method

Nowadays, wind energy is becoming an attractive source of clean energy. However, this type of power source is subject to power reductions due to losses in wind energy conversion system and to frequently changes in wind velocity. Many researches are turning to develop real-time power optimization techniques in order to maximize wind power production. In this paper, the multi-unit optimization method is used to maximize in real-time the power of a wind energy conversion system (WECS) composed of two wind turbines with permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSG). The performance of the proposed method is compared to the one obtained from the application of the perturbation-observation (PO) method. The simulation results show a faster convergence of the multi-unit optimization method to the optimal operational point without any oscillation around this point. The multi-unit optimization method also showed a better response than the PO method to rapid changes in wind velocity.