Distributed ReStart demonstrated a world first by coordinating distributed energy resources (DER) for a “bottom-up” approach to an electricity system restoration service. 

Electricity system restoration is currently a “top-down” transmission-led service using large fossil fuel generators, like coal-fired power stations, to restart the transmission network.  

DERs include renewable sources of energy like: 

• natural gas turbines 

• biomass generators 

• embedded hydro-power stations 

• wind turbines 

• solar panels

DERs provide a cleaner and greener alternative to large fossil fuel generators. Although the scale of production for DERs is typically smaller, their enormous growth on distribution networks presents an opportunity to co-ordinate an electricity system restoration service using renewables. 

The key challenge for the project was how to bring the organisational coordination, the commercial and regulatory frameworks, and the power engineering solutions together to achieve an electricity system restoration from DERs. 

The project has successfully met all its agreed objectives and deliverables. 

Our Closedown Report shows that project has not only successfully delivered on all 10 of its objectives as defined and agreed in our Project Direction but has also gone further than originally scoped. This included the build and test of a Distribution Restoration Zone Controller (DRZC) prototype that allows for automation of the creation and stabilisation of a local power island.   

The project delivered across all the main workstreams and has produced several key outputs as per the NIC bid requirements and our delivery criteria. 

These key outputs are fully described in detail in our Final Findings and Proposals report. 

The organisational, systems and telecommunications workstream considered the restoration process. This included the different roles, responsibilities and relationships needed across the industry to achieve an effective electricity system restoration from DER service. 

It specified the requirements for information systems and telecommunications, recognising the need for resilience and the challenges of coordinating electricity system restoration across many parties.

Organisational, systems and telecommunications information

The procurement and compliance work stream considered the best way to deliver the concept for end consumers by: 

• exploring the options and trade-offs between competitive procurement solutions and mandated elements 

• making recommendations on the procurement strategy 

• aiming to be as open and transparent as possible, while reflecting wider industry discussions on related topics like the DSO transition and whole system planning 

• feeding into BAU activities to make changes as necessary in codes and regulations

Procurement and compliance information

The knowledge and dissemination workstream focused on the findings from this project. These will be of immense value to the industry, both locally and internationally, as energy systems seek to decarbonise and decentralise. 

The project's findings are being disseminated to a variety of stakeholders. These range from DERs and network operators through to academics, policy makers and end consumers. 

Stakeholder engagement has also been important for incorporating valuable feedback into the project. 

Knowledge and dissemination information

This organisational chart shows the structure and flow of the project’s workstreams and stakeholders. 

View the Distributed ReStart organogram