Method of operating a wind turbine

A method of operating a wind turbine using a controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate or deactivate each of two or more distinct control features of the wind turbine, each control feature changing the operating characteristic of the wind turbine and having an impact on at least one of lifetime and energy production of the wind turbine, wherein the method comprises:

• determining a type of optimization parameter and an optimization target for the optimization parameter, wherein the optimization parameter is related to at least one of (a) lifetime of the wind turbine, (b) energy production of the wind turbine, and (c) power demand satisfaction for a power demand from a power grid to which the wind turbine is connected;
• performing one or more optimization steps, wherein each optimization step is performed for a different combination of activation states of the two or more control features, wherein the two or more control features comprise at least two or all of the control features selected from the group consisting of:
• a high wind ride through, HWRT, control feature that performs a load-based reduction of the output power of the wind turbine at predetermined wind conditions;
• an adaptive control system, ACS, control feature that reduces the output power of the wind turbine if turbulences above a threshold are determined at the wind turbine;
• a power boost, PB, control feature that increases the power output of the wind turbine by increasing the power limit of the wind turbine under predetermined wind conditions;
• a power curve upgrade kit, PCUK, control feature that modifies a control function of the controller in dependence on hardware modifications installed on the wind turbine;
• and
• a peak shaving feature that changes the operating curve using which the controller operates the wind turbine, the operating curve determining wind turbine settings in dependence on wind speed,
• wherein each optimization step includes:
• selecting a combination of activation states of the two or more control features;
• estimating the optimization parameter, the estimating including at least the estimation of the remaining lifetime if the optimization parameter is related to the lifetime of the wind turbine, and the estimating including at least the estimation of the energy production of the wind turbine if the optimization parameter is related to the energy production of the wind turbine or to the power demand satisfaction, wherein the estimating considers the impact of the control features activated in the optimization step;
• based on the estimated optimization parameter, determining if a further optimization step is to be performed;
• wherein the method further comprises:
• based on the one or more optimization steps, determining an optimal combination of activation states of the two or more control features for which the estimated optimization parameter meets the optimization target, the optimal combination of activation states being automatically determined by the controller, and
• activating the control features of the wind turbine in accordance with the determined optimal combination of activation states and operating the wind turbine with the activated control features.