Restoration Services
Restoration (formerly known as Black Start) is the process used to restore power in the event of a total or partial shutdown of the national electricity transmission system.
A total or partial shutdown of the national electricity transmission system (NETS) is an unlikely event. However, if it happens, we are obliged to make sure there are contingency arrangements in place to ensure electricity supplies can be restored in a timely and orderly way. We use restoration services to recover from such a shutdown.
It is possible to provide other balancing services, if doing so does not interfere with your ability to restore the electricity system.
The restoration service can be procured from a range of Power Generating Modules (PGM) or HVDC systems that have the capability to re-start from shutdown without reliance on external supplies. Top-up services to supplement the technical requirements in any given zone are also procured alongside these full-service provisions. The restoration tenders launching in 2022 invite Distributed Energy Resources (DER) services providers for a bottom up approach to restoration from distribution to transmission level.
During a shutdown, the service requires the provider to restart, carry out initial energisation of sections of the national electricity transmission system and distribution network, and restore sufficient demand to create and manage a stable ‘power island’.
The contracted provider may be required to deliver start up supplies to other assets/sites as the system restoration progresses and will eventually be required to synchronise to other power islands.
Not all Power Generating Modules or HVDC systems have, or are required to have, the capability to provide restoration services. This capability should ideally be considered when the plant is being built, although we may procure services where this capability can be retrofitted and is economic to do so.
Service dispatch
When do providers need to be available to deliver this service?
Providers of the restoration services are expected to achieve high availability levels. When the contracted site or asset is unavailable to provide the service, NESO must be advised. Availability payments will then cease until the provider re-declares its availability. Settlement periods where the provider is unavailable will be accrued and assessed annually.
How will providers be dispatched?
In the event of a partial or total system shut down, providers of restoration services will be instructed by the Electricity System Operator’s control room, with the general guidance of a site specific restoration plan.
How often will providers be dispatched?
Initiating the procedures is considered to be a low likelihood event. However, wetest the delivery of this service at least every three years, as set out in the Grid Code.
Getting paid
Payments will be applicable depending on the type, age,status, etc. of the Power Generating Module or HVDC System Contract Terms.
Availability payment (£/settlement period) – a payment for being available to provide restoration services.
Contribution sums – these payments are available to new or refurbishing plant only. Where the installation, or refurbishment of capital assets at the contracted site would return a valuable restoration service, we may choose to contribute towards the provider’s costs. This may be in the form of profiled (staged) or upfront payments, all supported by valid invoices.
We reserve the right to request further evidence to verify that the works have been completed.
Our key documents can be found in each tab on the left hand side.
ESR tender information
NESO have developed a combined tender rules and FAQ document which you will find below. These two documents are applicable to all ESR tenders. The FAQ documents will be updated by the team monthly.
Wind tender
Alongside region-specific ESR tenders, NESO is also holding a one-off competitive procurement event for a nationwide wind tender.
Following feedback from industry, we have two service commencement dates of December 2026 or December 2028. Below you will find all the tender documents required to make a bid.
| Name | Published Sort ascending |
|---|---|
| Electricity System Restoration nationwide wind tender results | 27 Mar 2024 |
| Wind Tender - Service Contract Terms | 27 Sep 2023 |
| ESR Tender Commercial Evaluation Methodology | 21 Aug 2023 |
| ITT Part 2 Tender Documents | 9 Aug 2023 |
| Consolidated FAQ's Document - Updated August 2023 | 3 Aug 2023 |
| ESR Operational Metering, Commissioning Assessment and Testing Guidance | 3 Aug 2023 |
| ESR Competitive Tender Rules | 23 May 2023 |
| ESR Appendix 3 - Wind Tender FAQs | 15 Dec 2022 |
| ITT Part 1 Wind Tender Documents Revised | 28 Nov 2022 |
| ESR Wind Tender EOI Documents Revised | 27 Nov 2022 |
Northern tender
NESO has launched a tender to provide Restoration Services in the Northern region. Below you will find all the information and documents required to submit an EOI.
This procurement event will incorporate learnings from the Distributed ReStart project for a potential bottom-up restoration to supplement the traditional transmission-connected generation.
You can watch a webinar on the tender process for Electricity System Restoration in the Northern region below:
Northern ESR tender webinar playback
The DNO for South Scotland and North West of England regions carried out enhanced network analysis, and consequently all the EOI submissions in these areas were re-evaluated. There is no change to the decisions for all existing participants and the overall tender's timelines, however for those highlighted as eligible, they have been re-invited back into the tender.
We endeavour to learn as we are undertaking a brand new process with the Distributed ReStart categories and collaboratively with the DNOs, we want do right by the market, therefore this course correction was important to maintain market liquidity and in keeping with procurement guidelines.
| Name | Published Sort ascending |
|---|---|
| ITT Part 2 Tender Documents | 26 Sep 2023 |
| ESR Tender Commercial Evaluation Methodology | 21 Aug 2023 |
| Consolidated FAQ's Document - Updated August 2023 | 3 Aug 2023 |
| ESR Operational Metering, Commissioning Assessment and Testing Guidance | 3 Aug 2023 |
| ESR Northern Tender Draft Contract Terms - updated | 19 Jul 2023 |
| ESR Competitive Tender Rules | 23 May 2023 |
| ITT Part 1 Tender Documents | 16 Jan 2023 |
| Northern Tender EOI documents | 17 Oct 2022 |
| ESR Competitive Procurement Webinar Northern Tender slides | 29 Sep 2022 |
South east tender
NESO has launched a tender to provide Restoration Services in the south east region as covered by the south east DNO (UKPN) boundary. Below you will find all the information and documents required to submit a complaint EOI.
This will be the first procurement event incorporating learnings from the Distributed ReStart project project for a potential bottom-up restoration to supplement the traditional transmission-connected generation.
SE tender contract service terms - updated
| Name | Published |
|---|---|
| SE tender draft contract terms - updated | 13 Oct 2023 |
South east tender documents
| Name | Published |
|---|---|
| ITT Part 2 Tender Documents | 23 Aug 2023 |
| ESR Tender Commercial Evaluation Methodology | 21 Aug 2023 |
| Consolidated FAQ's Document - Updated August 2023 | 3 Aug 2023 |
| ITT Part 2 All Contract Drafts | 13 Jun 2023 |
| ESR Competitive Tender Rules | 23 May 2023 |
| ITT Part 1 Tender Documents | 19 Aug 2022 |
| South East Tender EOI Documents | 1 Jun 2022 |
| South East tender Webinar Slide Pack | 13 Apr 2022 |
| South East tender Webinar Registration | 13 Apr 2022 |
South west and Midlands tender
Market engagement webinar
NESO has launched a tender to provide Restoration Services in the south west and Midlands regions. Below you will find all the information and documents required to submit an EOI.
This procurement event will incorporate learnings from the Distributed ReStart project for a potential bottom-up restoration to supplement the traditional transmission-connected generation.
You can watch a webinar on the tender process for Electricity System Restoration in the south west and Midlands region below:
| Name | Published Sort ascending |
|---|---|
| ITT Part 2 tender documents | 9 Aug 2024 |
| ITT Part 1 tender documents | 27 Feb 2024 |
| SW and Midlands EOI tender documents | 5 Jan 2024 |
Archive
Our archive contains documents from previous years.
Restoration competitive procurement event: north west, north east and Scotland 2020
| Name | Published |
|---|---|
| Northern Region tender results | 4 May 2021 |
| Commercial Evaluation Methodology | 18 Dec 2020 |
| Update to tender timelines | 22 Sep 2020 |
| Summary of submissions participating in ITT Part 2 | 17 Aug 2020 |
| Summary of submissions participating in ITT Part 1 | 8 Nov 2019 |
| Request for Expressions of Interest (Zipped Folder) | 11 Oct 2019 |
| EOI FAQ’s | 31 Jul 2019 |
| Template MASA - Please note the clause 4 terms should prevail (updated 28 March 2019) | 28 Mar 2019 |
| CSA - Please note the clause 4 terms should prevail (updated 28 March 2019) | 28 Mar 2019 |
| Template Parent Company Guarantee | 22 Feb 2019 |
Restoration competitive procurement event: SW/Midlands 2019
Documents relating to request for feedback
| Name | Published |
|---|---|
| Request for Feedback - Summary (uploaded 22 January 2019) | 22 Jan 2019 |
| Black Start Competitive Procurement Event Webinar Presentation - Updated 21 Jan 19 | 21 Jan 2019 |
| Request for Feedback | 10 Dec 2018 |
| Appendix 5 - Feedback Template | 6 Dec 2018 |
| Appendix 3 – Feasibility Study Agreement | 6 Dec 2018 |
| Appendix 1 - Technical Requirements and Assessment Criteria | 6 Dec 2018 |
| Appendix 4 - New Build Black Start Terms | 6 Dec 2018 |
| Appendix 2 - Feasibility Assessment Process | 6 Dec 2018 |
Updated contract terms
| Name | Published |
|---|---|
| Updated Contract Terms Jan 2021 | 7 Jan 2021 |
Distributed ReStart is a world-first initiative. Distributed energy resources (DER) can be used to restore power to the transmission network in the unlikely event of a total or partial shutdown of the national electricity transmission system (NETS).
Consultation on the assurance framework 2023/24
Special Condition 2.2.1 of the Electricity System Operator's (ESO) licence directs the ESO to produce an assurance framework demonstrating the strategy the ESO will adopt to ensure compliance with the Electricity System Restoration Standard (ESRS). The assurance framework is published following its approval by the authority.
The ESO has prepared the assurance framework for 2023/24 which covers our current restoration strategy and the modelled performance of this strategy following a total system shut down. It also provides the new strategy which will get us to attaining full compliance to ESRS requirements by the compliance deadline of 31 December 2026.
Further enquiries
Get in touch with the right team within Balancing Services, who are on hand to answer any questions you may have.