Black start from renewable energy resources: Review and a case study of Great Britain

Black start is the restoration of an electrical power system following a total or partial system shutdown. A loss of supply of this magnitude is a most unusual event but must be anticipated as it has significant societal and economic consequences. Many countries are moving towards a low-carbon electricity system, and the fossil generators that currently provide black start capability are being replaced by renewable energy generators, many of which are individually of limited capacity. This reduction in the number of large conventional generators is leading to a need to reconsider black start practices and to question whether restoration of a de-energized network through a skeleton transmission system should be replaced by establishing multiple power islands each with smaller generating units. Using academic studies and the results of two innovation projects recently completed in Great Britain (GB), this study reviews the established power system black start practices and the participation of renewable energy resources in the black start. After traditional black start practices are reviewed, the challenges and solutions for using renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources to support black start are investigated. Restoration control and planning strategies in academic studies are discussed. Then the evolving power system black start practices in GB are discussed, and the methodologies and findings of two innovative black start projects in GB are reviewed.