Consideration of the solar arrays placement optimization results by the combinatorial optimization and the gradient method

Abstract

In this study, a two-step optimization method that combines the continuous optimization method and the combinatorial optimization method is proposed for solar arrays placement optimization. The optimum solution of array’s placement obtained by the genetic algorithm is used to the conjugate gradient method as the initial solution. This two-step optimization can be expected to make the quasi-optimal solution a global optimal solution in a mixed variable optimization problem. From the results of several example analyses, it was found that the proposed two-step optimization method could be used to increase the total amount of received light of the photovoltaic power plant.