The　scenario　analysis　method　is　an　important　method　to　adapt　to　the　optimal　dispatch　of　power　systems　with　a　high　percentage　of　new　energy　sources.　As　a　hot　research　topic　in　scenario　analysis　methods,　the　significance　of　scenario　reduction　is　to　describe　many　complex　scenarios　that　feature　a　small　number　of　representative　scenarios　to　achieve　the　purpose　of　reducing　computational　complexity.　In　this　paper,　a　distribution　network　optimization　dispatch　method　based　on　the　hierarchical　clustering　algorithm　for　scenario　reduction　is　proposed　considering　wind　power　output　and　photovoltaic　output.　Firstly,　the　original　scenes　are　quickly　categorized　because　of　the　hierarchical　clustering　algorithm　to　derive　typical　scenarios.　Secondly,　an　optimal　dispatch　model　of　the　distribution　network　containing　renewable　energy　is　established.　Finally,　the　arithmetic　example　is　verified　by　using　the　IEEE33　distribution　network,　and　the　experimental　results　validate　the　validity　and　superiority　of　the　proposed　scenario　reduction　method.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.