A method for the installation control in a power plant is provided. A functional value of a target function based on a physical model is generated for a plurality of sets of variables, from respectively a set of environment variable and the respective set of variables, the functional value is allocated to the respective sets. The set of variables is selected to be transmitted to a control device of the power plant, whose allocated functional value complies with a predefined optimization criterion. In addition to a starting set and a set determined on the basis of the starting set and the functional value allocated thereto using a gradient method, the number of sets of variables further includes a set selected by a random generator. In addition, a control apparatus for a power plant using the method and a power plant using the control apparatus are provided.