CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF PLURAL WIND TURBINES

A method of controlling the operation of plural wind turbines is provided, wherein each wind turbine (101-104) is operable in different operating modes, wherein operating parameters and/or operating features of the wind turbine (101-104) are set differently in the different operating modes. For at least a first of said plural wind turbines (101-104), at least some of the different operating modes in which the first wind turbine is operable have a different impact on a residual lifetime of at least a second of said plural wind turbines. The method includes providing at least one candidate operating scheme and estimating a residual lifetime and/or at least one optimization parameter for operation of the plural wind turbines (101-104) in accordance with the provided candidate operating scheme. Estimating of the residual lifetime and/or the optimization parameter considers the impact of the operating mode of the first wind turbine (101, 102) specified in the candidate operating scheme on the residual lifetime of the second wind turbine (103, 104). The plural wind turbines (101-104) are then operated in accordance with an operating scheme selected from the candidate operating schemes.