Blackstart capability—the ability to restore power without external electricity supply—is declining across the U.S., the UK, Europe, and beyond. As power grids face mounting threats, grid resilience is more critical than ever. EIS Council is leading the charge to enhance blackstart readiness through the strategic framework outlined in our recently published EPRO V Handbook: Blackstart Power Restoration for a Greener Grid. Strengthening infrastructure is a vital step toward ensuring grid resilience and societal security in the event of a Black Sky.
The Shortcomings of Current Blackstart Plans
While blackstart protocols do exist, they are often inadequate for the challenges ahead. Most plans are designed for blackouts caused by internal grid failures—such as the widespread outage in Puerto Rico triggered by an electromechanical failure in a substation. However, real-world blackouts are more commonly driven by external factors, including extreme weather events, cyber or physical attacks, and emerging grid stresses linked to climate change and the rapid transition to renewable energy sources. Additionally, the exponential growth of power-hungry data centers is placing unprecedented strain on an already fragile grid, further threatening grid resilience.
Key Objectives for a Resilient Blackstart Strategy
To strengthen grid resilience, EIS Council has identified three core objectives:
1. Increase Blackstart Capacity
- Expand the number of blackstart and next-start units within the grid.
- Establish multiple redundant blackstart cranking paths to reduce failure risks and enhance resilience.
2. Enhance Robustness for Black Sky Events
- Move beyond grid-centric recovery models and incorporate worst-case scenarios, including disruptions to communications, transportation, water supply, and other critical infrastructure.
- Develop blackstart strategies that align with broader grid resilience initiatives to improve overall recovery capabilities.
3. Strengthen Blackstart “Requirements”
- Go beyond regulatory mandates to include industry best practices, corporate policies, advanced training programs, and procurement strategies that prioritize grid resilience.
Introducing GINOM: A Game-Changer in Grid Resilience
In addition to these objectives, EIS Council is developing GINOM (Global Infrastructure Network Optimization Model), an innovative situational awareness and decision support system designed to enhance grid resilience. GINOM functions as a real-time digital twin framework, enabling operators across critical sectors to simulate interdependent infrastructures and supply chains without requiring proprietary data sharing. By providing AI-guided decision support, GINOM empowers stakeholders to navigate complex scenarios effectively, thereby improving blackstart capabilities.
Rising To The Challenge
Grid resilience is no longer just a technical challenge, it’s a deep societal issue. Without proactive investment, our ability to recover from catastrophic events as a society will remain dangerously insufficient and leave us fragile and incompetent. By refining blackstart strategies with a broader, real-world perspective, we can fortify grid resilience and safeguard energy infrastructure against the growing risks of the 21st century.
We at EIS Council are committed to leading this charge.
The question remains: Will policymakers and industry leaders rise to the challenge before the next Black Sky event strikes?
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