Multi-objective optimal scheduling of cascade reservoirs in complex basin systems: Case study of the Jinsha River-Yalong River confluence basin in China

Cascade reservoir systems in the confluence basin of the Jinsha and Yalong rivers (CBJY), China. Scheduling cascade reservoirs is a high-dimensional, nonlinear multi-objective optimization problem. In complex basins with multiple converging rivers, the "dimensional catastrophe" effect increases with more decision variables, requiring improved robustness and optimization of the scheduling algorithm. In this study, an improved multi-objective sparrow search algorithm (IMOSSA) is proposed to solve the problem, which overcome the classical SSA solution efficiency instability and easy to fall into the local optimal solution through Tent mapping, levy flight, Gaussian variation, and a strategy combining slime mold algorithm (SMA). Benchmark function tests demonstrate that IMOSSA outperforms others in terms of optimization capability and stability. The scheduling model and IMOSSA are applied to CBJY region involving 16 cascaded reservoir systems. The results show that IMOSSA obtains a more uniformly and widely distributed Pareto solution set, and the scheduling schemes derived from IMOSSA are significantly superior to other schemes. Taking very high flow year as an example, the total power generation of the multi-objective scheduling scheme is 4050 billion kW·h, the output is 32,040 MW, and the ecological discharge is 4739 m 3 /s. This scheduling approach can yield greater overall benefits, provide strong flood control capabilities, and ensure that the power generation distribution of the system better aligns with China's national requirements. This study offers valuable reference insights for the multi-objective optimization scheduling of cascaded reservoir systems in other complex watershed regions. • Develop a model for cascade reservoirs scheduling considering generation, plant output and ecological flows. • Propose cascade reservoirs scheduling algorithm (IMOSSA) for complex basin with multi-river confluence. • IMOSSA has better convergence and stability in benchmark function tests. • IMOSSA establishes a scheduling scheme that achieves greater comprehensive benefits. • Realize of a daily scheduling scheme for reservoirs in flood season with enhanced flood control capacity.