Blackout restoration techniques for Saudi Electric Company-Central Branch

This paper describes the concepts and techniques inserted into the blackout restoration procedure for the complete restoration of the SEC C network (Saudi Electric Company-Central Branch). It addresses (a) the criteria established to ensure satisfactory steady state conditions of frequency, voltage and generator´s MVAr loading, (b) the studies made to ensure that transient and steady state conditions will be within limits under the worst conditions, (c) the concepts of the restoration arrangement, (d) the standard switching procedures for load pickup, (e) the partial load restoration to speed up the energization of all substations, (f) the rules on spinning reserve and redundant network element to warrant against contingencies that could recollapse the network, and finally, (g) the support group to provide technical expertise to the dispatchers during the process