Multi-interval optimization for real-time power system scheduling in the Ontario electricity market

The Ontario IMO market operation system software that determines the real-time (5-minute) dispatch instructions has been enhanced to optimize over a number of intervals. Optimizing over a rolling period of up to 1 hour ahead provides more reliable and economic operation by taking into account upcoming demand and system condition changes without need for manual operator intervention. Multi-interval optimization (MIO) makes dispatch advisories available to market participants for future dispatch instructions, which helps them to efficiently manage their units and allows them to be better able to follow their dispatch instructions. Based on the first five months of operation experience, MIO has improved unit scheduling and stability of the IMO network. It also reduces the amount of operator manual intervention and, therefore, leads to more transparent market operation.