Synergy project demonstrates renewable energy’s black start potential

In what is being called a global first, SP Energy Networks has successfully completed the first phase of a £4.4 million ($5.5 million) black start trial, demonstrating how the electricity network can be restored at a faster pace using only renewable energy in the unlikely event of a major power outage. 

The Synergy project – trialled by the British utility SP Energy Networks in Dumfries & Galloway – comes as demand for electricity continues to increase as more and more homes and businesses make the move to low-carbon technology like electric vehicles and heat pumps. 

SP Energy Networks partnered with GE and power generation company Drax for the first phase of the trial, which used a small group of renewable sources including hydro and wind to kickstart the network locally. 

The trial – funded by Ofgem’s Green Recovery Fund – builds on years of research and offers a unique alternative to traditional ‘black start’ restoration approaches, which rely on fossil fuels including large-scale coal and gas power stations. Black start is the process of restoring power in the event of a total or partial shutdown of the energy transmission system. 

For the trial, SP Energy Networks connected a hydro generator at Drax’s Kendoon Power Station to power wind turbines across two small wind farms at Glenchamber and North Rhins to re-energise the network in a trial test.

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The project demonstrated that, with the right technology, the network has the capability to be 60% self-starting within 24 hours by 2026, a requirement set out by the Electricity System Restoration Standard. 

Scott Mathieson, network planning and regulation director at SP Energy Networks, commented on how the successful first phase of the project is a significant milestone for both the utility company and the UK itself: “Providing grid stability and services from renewables is one of the greatest challenges facing network operators today.

“Our trial shows it can be done and highlights just what our network is capable of as low carbon technology becomes an increasing part of our everyday lives. This is hugely impressive and shows we are very much on the right path as we continue to invest and innovate to ensure our network is an enabler for net zero…We look forward to progressing the next phase of the restart trial and delivering the widespread benefits that this project will bring to the network for years to come.”

Colin Parris, senior vice president and chief technology officer at GE Digital added that “the live trials mark a significant global milestone in using advanced high speed wide-area monitoring and control to harness the capability of renewable and distributed generation to deliver services for resilience and stability of the network.

“For the first time, a coordinated monitoring and control scheme has been applied to draw on the capabilities of different renewable and distributed generation, along with fast-acting balancing control capabilities so that the zone can provide black start and other grid services.”

SP Energy Networks will undertake further live network trials in Central Scotland and Fife later this year which will represent a crucial step, they state, in the leading network provider’s mission to ensure and maintain network stability as demand for electricity increases.