Abstract: The uncertainty of the power output of wind farms and photovoltaic power plants brings significant technical challenges to the optimal dispatch of power systems. This paper mainly introduces the research status and future research direction prospect of the optimal dispatch methods for power systems considering the uncertainty of renewable energy. Firstly, various uncertain optimal dispatch（UOD） methods are discussed including stochastic optimization（SO） methods, robust optimization（RO） methods,combined SO and RO methods and artificial intelligence technology-based methods. SO methods include scenario-based method,chance-constrained programming method and approximate dynamic programming method. RO methods include traditional RO method and distributionally RO method. Combined SO and RO methods include sample RO method and distributionally robust chance-constrained programming method. Secondly, the form of the optimization model, the principles of model transformation and solution, as well as the advantages and disadvantages for each method are introduced. Finally, the future research directions of UOD are prospected, including the UOD problem with multiple objectives and the multi-objective uncertain optimization method,the UOD problem of transmission and distribution systems and the distributed uncertain optimization method, the UOD problem considering the stability constraints and the uncertain optimization method with ordinary differential equation constraints, and the UOD problem of integrated energy systems considering the pipeline transmission dynamics and the uncertain optimization method with partial differential equation constraints.