National Grid concludes first competitive tender for black start services

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has completed its first competitive tender for black start services, awarding contracts worth £84 million to six providers – five of them new.

The tender for the South West and Midlands was launched in February 2019. The agreements cover a five-year period beginning in July 2022, although there is also an incentive to begin providing the service earlier if possible and at the discretion of the ESO.

Black start refers to the process of restarting the power grid in the event of a partial or complete shutdown. Contracts have traditionally been agreed through bilateral negotiations and awarded to large coal and gas power stations connected to the transmission network.

The ESO declined to provide further details but said the latest agreements include both distribution and transmission-connected providers.

David Wildash, senior manager for market services at the ESO, said: “Our control room engineers have never had to implement our national black start procedures but nevertheless it’s a hugely important backup plan and we’re pleased to be announcing this new suite of contracts.

“It’s really exciting to see the contract process changing and a competitive tender being introduced. These new agreements will widen the pool of generators who can help provide the service and offer cost efficiencies too.”

National Grid has been exploring how distributed energy resources can contribute to the provision of black start services through its Distributed Restart innovation project, the results of which are due to be published in March 2022. It said it is also working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to develop an industry-wide restoration standard for Great Britain.