Webinar: System Black Start with DER

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Featured Speaker: Pete Chandler, Project Lead, Distributed ReStart, National Grid ESO

Pete has worked for National Grid system operations for 27 years and is currently leading the Distributed ReStart NIC project. He is accountable for all aspects of the project including reporting of workstream outcomes and deliverables to the regulator and stakeholders and managing the project funding of £11.7m.

Pete has held many roles at National Grid including post event review, operational planning, emergency planning including black start, business continuity management and control room operations.

He was an Electricity National Control Centre Operational Manager for over 10 years. He currently holds an authorization as Power System Manager, responsible for real-time electricity balancing and management of Great Britain’s power system.

Pete has worked with a wide network of stakeholders from across the electricity supply industry including government, regulator, international stakeholders, DNOs and generators. He sits on the government’s E3C Electricity Task Group and was part of the E3C team investigating the low frequency event on 9 August 2019.

Pete has successfully delivered several high-profile projects including the legal separation of the ESO from the wider National Grid business, industry winter preparedness plans for security of supply, new black start services, and drafting the Emergency & Restoration European network code.

Moderator: Charlie Smith, ESIG Executive Director

Registration Cost: FREE

Q&A Session: We will be using the slido platform for Q&A. Please submit your questions and follow-along during the event at this link.

Webinar Abstract: Black start is the procedure used to restore power in the event of a severe disturbance resulting in the loss of power to a large region of the electric system. The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) of Great Britain (GB) has undertaken a new project called Distributed ReStart which will demonstrate a world-first black start service through the coordinated operation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).

The Distributed ReStart project, a three year effort, has reached its halfway point. Removing the dependence on large fossil fuel generators for black start will help reduce costs and achieve a net zero carbon grid in GB by 2025. It will also make possible the UK government’s net zero carbon target for 2050. Flexible demand companies and DERs would benefit from revenue for the provision of black start services.

The webinar will provide an overview and status report on the Distributed ReStart project, including an understanding of:

• Insights gained from power system studies performed using models of case study networks and distributed energy resources
• Technical capability, challenges and generic issues for a wider rollout in Great Britain
• Systems needing additional functionality
• Process used to develop a proposal for a resilient system, including telecommunications
• Contractual requirements based on the proposed technical solutions
• Development concepts being explored to form contractual agreements across Great Britain.

Project partners include a collaboration of National Grid ESO, Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) and specialist energy consultancy TNEI.