{"id":12707,"date":"2026-09-09T15:20:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T13:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/nicht-kategorisiert\/black-start-capability\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T16:28:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T14:28:21","slug":"black-start-capability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Start Capability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black-start capability refers to the ability of a power generation facility <strong>to restart on its own, without any external power supply, following a complete power outage.<\/strong> It is one of the key prerequisites for restoring the power grid after a major outage and is becoming increasingly important with the growing role of <a title=\"battery storage\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/bess-commercial-and-industrial-storage-solutions\/\"><u>battery storage systems<\/u><\/a> is increasingly coming into focus.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#How-does-the-power-grid-recover-after-a-blackout\" >How does the power grid recover after a blackout?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#The-Process-of-Restoring-the-Network\" >The Process of Restoring the Network<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#Black-Start-Capability-in-Germany-Today\" >Black Start Capability in Germany Today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#Legal-Framework-and-Market-Based-Procurement\" >Legal Framework and Market-Based Procurement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#Battery-storage-systems-capable-of-black-start\" >Battery storage systems capable of black start<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#Why-Is-Black-Start-Capability-Important-for-Companies\" >Why Is Black Start Capability Important for Companies?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#Distinction-from-related-terms\" >Distinction from related terms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/black-start-capability\/#Summary\" >Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-does-the-power-grid-recover-after-a-blackout\"><\/span>How does the power grid recover after a blackout?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A power plant is considered capable of black start if, after being completely shut down, it can restart on its own <strong>without any external power supply<\/strong> and generate the necessary voltage and frequency itself. The energy generated in this process is then used to gradually bring online other generation units that are not capable of black start. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Process-of-Restoring-the-Network\"><\/span>The Process of Restoring the Network<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following a major outage, the transmission system operators assume responsibility for coordinating what is known as grid restoration. This is carried out in close coordination with the distribution system operators based on predefined grid restoration plans: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Systems capable of black start initially bring a small, stable sub-grid (island grid) online<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This subnetwork is being expanded in stages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional power plants and consumers will be gradually synchronized and brought online<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Black-Start-Capability-in-Germany-Today\"><\/span>Black Start Capability in Germany Today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to regulatory monitoring under Section 35 of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), there are currently 174 plants in Germany capable of black start with a rated capacity of at least 10 MW, primarily hydroelectric and gas-fired power plants. However, only 26 of these plants actually have a contractual agreement with the transmission system operators for system-wide grid restoration. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal-Framework-and-Market-Based-Procurement\"><\/span>Legal Framework and Market-Based Procurement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since January 2024, transmission system operators have been required under Section 12h of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) to issue calls for bids for black-start capability as a non-frequency-related system service in a technology-neutral and market-based manner. This means that, in principle, battery storage systems can also participate as providers on an equal footing with traditional power plants. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Battery-storage-systems-capable-of-black-start\"><\/span>Battery storage systems capable of black start<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be capable of black start, <strong>a battery storage system requires grid-forming inverters<\/strong> that can independently set voltage and frequency, as well as a properly designed <a title=\"Energy management system\" href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/okean-energy-management-system\/\"><u>energy management system<\/u><\/a>. Compared to conventional power plants, battery storage systems offer several technical advantages: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>significantly faster availability, often within seconds rather than minutes or hours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More precise control of frequency and voltage through power electronics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zero-emission startup without diesel generators or gas turbines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decentralized deployment at strategically important network nodes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why-Is-Black-Start-Capability-Important-for-Companies\"><\/span>Why Is Black Start Capability Important for Companies?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For operators of battery storage systems, market-based procurement opens up another potential application option, provided the system is designed with grid-forming technology as early as the planning phase\u2014retrofitting is generally much more costly.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Distinction-from-related-terms\"><\/span>Distinction from related terms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not to be confused with:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>(Market-based procurement of instantaneous reserve): This is also a market-based, non-frequency-related system service, but it pertains to ongoing grid stabilization rather than restoration following a total outage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><u><a href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/q-r-s-t\/redispatch-2-0\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"8774\">Redispatch 2.0<\/a><\/u>: A measure to prevent grid congestion during normal operation, not for restoring power after a blackout<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><u><a href=\"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wiki\/e-f-g-h\/energy-management-system-ems\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"11045\">Energy Management Systems (EMS)<\/a><\/u>: a technical prerequisite for implementing black start capability in battery storage systems from a control engineering perspective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span>Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black-start capability is a <strong>key feature for restoring the power grid<\/strong> after a major outage. With grid-forming inverters and a suitable energy management system, battery storage systems can also perform this task\u2014often faster, more precisely, and with zero emissions compared to conventional power plants. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Black-start capability refers to the ability of a power generation facility to restart on its own, without any external power supply, following a complete power outage. It is one of the key prerequisites for restoring the power grid after a major outage and is becoming increasingly important with the growing role of battery storage systems [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_type":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,102],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-q-r-s-t","category-wiki"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12707"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12708,"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12707\/revisions\/12708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/be-storaged.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}