Functional Requirements for Blackstart and Power System Restoration from Wind Power Plants

In the recent years, the worldwide grid integration of renewable energy sources (RES) has grown rapidly. However, the grid-integration of large volume of renewables like wind and solar, interfaced by power electronics converters, is changing the dynamics of the power system and creating challenges to maintain reliability, robustness and stability of electricity supply. Morevoer, the stronger inter-linking of networks poses a greater risk of wide-area blackouts. With the growing share of wind power in the grid and conventional generators being phased out, large offshore wind power plants (OWPP) with state-of-the-art wind turbines (WT) can provide services of blackstart and power system restoration (PSR) in the future. This paper provides an overview of the technical requirements of blackstart units and the current capabilities of WTs, based on grid-codes, studies on ancillary services and recent blackout experience. Finally recommendations to the functional requirements of WTs are made, to make OWPPs capable of blackstart and help facilitate PSR in the future.