b'26 Partner News Winter 2023Corporatea step further, proving that Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with grid-forming technology can be utilised very effectively as anchor generators to start, maintain and control power islands (the building blocks used to grow electricity supply and networks at a regional level, before joining them together to return the national electricity network). Demonstrating the ability of BESS to energise components of the distribution and transmission networks in Great Britain sets a precedent for these assets to be used, globally, as viable energy system restoration service providers.This trial also demonstrated the use of a Distribution Restoration Zone Controller (DRZC) that automates (with control A world first:engineer direction) the creation and stabilisation of the local power island. Distributed ReStart has shown that low electricity systemcarbon DERs can support faster electricity system restoration, achieving net zero targets while increasing network resilience. restoration from batteryBusiness as usualThe project has also achieved the much energy storage systemssought-after transition to business as usual (BAU), with DERs now being included in tenders for new electricity system restoration services. Two tenders last year garnered high levels of interest from DERs, with expressions of interest from a much broader range of technology types than By Julian Leslie FIET, Head of Networks and seen in previous tenders, including wind, Chief Engineer, National Grid ESObatteries, solar and hydro.The transition to BAU will help meet the ESOs obligations in the upcoming National Grid ESO is the electricity systemExperts at the ESO have partnered with Electricity System Restoration Standard, to operator (ESO) for Great Britain - weSP Energy Networks and energy consultancybe implemented by December 2026.manage one of the worlds most complex -TNEI, on a ground-breaking project called and resilient energy systems. Distributed ReStart. This has proven inNinety-five years since the first pylon of practice the use of Distributed Energywhat would become the national grid Our experts balance the nations electricityResources (DER), like wind turbines and solarin Great Britain was erected, the ESO is system second-by-second to ensure apanels, to restore power to the transmissioncontinually finding ways to adapt as we continuous supply. This responsibilitynetwork. The four-year project closed inplan for the future. Distributed ReStart is means we need solid back-up plans for allOctober 2023 after completing a final livepart of a range of innovations that will help eventualities, including the (unlikely) eventtrial in June which delivered a world first. realise our mission of a fully decarbonised of needing to restart the network after aelectricity system, which is reliable, national power outage - this plan is calledPrevious project trials at Chapelcross andaffordable and fair for all, by 2035.electricity system restoration. Galloway had proved the concept of a Distribution Restoration Zone (DRZ) withPlease visit the National Grid ESOTraditionally, this service would use largemultiple DERs - using biomass and hydrowebsite for further information:fossil fuel generators like coal-fired powertechnologies, respectively. www.nationalgrideso.com/future-energy/stations to restart the network. But as weprojects/distributed-restarttransition towards net zero, new alternativesThe Redhouse live trial, delivered by SP are needed. Energy Networks as workstream lead, went'