Predispatch

Predispatch is a scheduling procedure used by electrical grid operators that occurs shortly before real-time power delivery. It serves as a crucial bridge between day-ahead market forecasts and the immediate, real-time dispatch of electricity. Typically conducted an hour or a few hours before the operating period, predispatch recalculates the optimal commitment and dispatch of power generation resources using the most recent data.

This process accounts for updated information that was unavailable during the day-ahead planning phase. Factors include more accurate short-term load forecasts, real-time changes in transmission line availability, and unexpected generator outages. By incorporating this new data, system operators can create a more reliable and economically efficient schedule, minimizing the need for last-minute, costly adjustments in the real-time market.

Predispatch results provide generators with updated setpoints and expectations, allowing them to prepare their units accordingly. This enhances grid reliability by proactively addressing potential imbalances between electricity supply and demand. It is an essential tool for managing the inherent volatility and uncertainty of a modern power system, especially with the increasing integration of intermittent renewable resources like wind and solar. Ultimately, predispatch helps ensure a stable and secure supply of electricity to consumers.