3 ms·
Spain is but Portugal is only connected to Spain and they are currently doing a full black start. For Spain the external power and synchronization can come fro
by mike_hearn 2y ago
Spain is but Portugal is only connected to Spain and they are currently doing a full black start.
For Spain the external power and synchronization can come from France rather than generators which will help, but the process and complexities are still mostly the same. Call it a dark start, perhaps.
- ncruces 2y agoEven then, the interconnect capacity with France is currently 2800 MW (was 1400 MW in 2015) with just 3 links, all on the NE. If Portugal (on the West) had to wait for that, it would probably have taken even longer.
- LorenPechtel 2y agoBut even a "small" amount of input power makes the process much easier because it can be used to bring up the next source of power.
- ncruces 2y agoSure. Portugal is in deed completely “isolated” if it loses Spain, so it needs black start capability if it wants some degree of autonomy. As far as containing the issue, this was a disaster. On the flip side, this was as good an opportunity to test a black start as any, it went reasonably well, and the network operator was already in the process of contracting two further dams for the ability.