Smarter layouts, realistic installations, and better wind data

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We have been busy listening to your feedback to refine the tools you use every day. This month, we’ve ticked off three of your most-requested features to make your workflows even smoother.

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Here is the latest from the Vind AI team:

New in Layout optimisation: Finer control & visibility constraints 

We’ve upgraded our optimisation engine to handle the specific, real-world constraints you face during the design phase.

• Locking design variables: You no longer have to choose between automation and manual expertise. It is now possible to lock one or more design variables during a regular layout optimisation. This allows the algorithm to find the peak performance for your site while respecting your non-negotiable project parameters.
• Visibility constraint: Managing visual impact is now significantly more sophisticated. You can set visibility as a hard constraint using viewpoints within a 20km radius of your park.
  
  • Smart relaxation: If you have multiple viewpoints, you can specify rules such as "a maximum of two sensors can see any individual turbine."
  • Instant validation: These constraints are incredibly easy to verify using Viewshed and the View Park functionality, ensuring you stay within local regulations from the start.
    
    
• BARRA2 Australia wind dataset: To our friends "down under"—this one is for you. We’ve integrated the BARRA2 dataset, which offers approximately 4km between data points. This is significantly more granular than ERA5 for the Australian region, providing much higher confidence for your early-phase assessments.

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Navigating trade-offs: Installation campaign simulations

Project development is rarely about finding the "perfect" layout in a vacuum; it’s about balancing maximum yield against logistical reality. We have overhauled our Installation functionality to help you move these complex decisions out of fragmented spreadsheets and into the platform.

By shifting from a rigid scheduling approach to flexible campaign simulations, we’ve made it easier to model realistic cost scenarios.

Why this matters for your team:

• Developers & Planners: You can now run early-phase simulations directly inside Vind AI rather than in Excel, allowing for a more agile and integrated design process.

Financial Teams: By modelling realistic Installation costs earlier, you gain a clearer understanding of the impact on LCoE and project economics, ensuring your most productive layouts are also your most bankable ones.