Energy Talks · OMICRON electronics GmbH

#75: Measuring a black start test with 34 OMICRON DANEO 400 devices

·20 min·1 clip

Lukas reveals why conventional power plants fail during blackouts and which ones can restart without external power.

This episode features host Scott Williams interviewing Omicron application engineer Lukas Dieterich about his team's role in a major grid restoration practice exercise in Germany. Dieterich explains that the probability of widespread blackouts is increasing due to factors like the shift to distributed energy resources and external threats such as cyberattacks. European grid operators employ preventive measures like redundant system design and enhanced cybersecurity, but also develop and practice detailed grid restoration plans. The discussed exercise involved German transmission system operators Amprion and Transnet BW, along with pump storage plant operator Schluchseewerk AG. A key requirement is verifying these restoration plans at least every five years, as mandated by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). Testing is critical because a blackout places grid assets under extreme, uncommon operating conditions that must be understood. For this exercise, Omicron supplied and configured 34 DANEO 400 testing devices to perform synchronized measurements across a trial grid spanning over 100 kilometers. The measurement system had to support live monitoring from a central computer, record high-speed data to capture transient events, and integrate various sensor data like generator rotational speed. A significant challenge was the logistical coordination of equipment and multiple expert teams, which required a dedicated half-day pre-test to ensure reliability. The actual grid restoration test lasted approximately eight hours, but the overall planning and preparation by the utilities took about four years. The process involved isolating a trial grid, using black-start capable plants like hydroelectric units to re-energize it, and then running through various load and generation scenarios. While specific performance findings are confidential, the test was successful and provided valuable learnings to optimize procedures and employee training. Dieterich notes that while simulation-based training occurs globally, practical exercises of this physical scale are less common. The tone is technical and educational, structured as an interview between a host and a field engineer. Listeners interested in electrical grid resilience, large-scale engineering projects, or power system testing will find this episode detailed and informative. Those seeking high-level policy discussions or entertainment-focused content might find the highly technical descriptions less engaging.

As heard by us

A sober look at how grid-restoration drills are measured and staged.

This episode takes blackout readiness seriously and keeps the focus on the work, not the drama. Scott Williams and Omicron application engineer Lukas Dieterich walk through a large German grid restoration practice exercise, including the 34 Daneo 400 devices, the accessory…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

See how 34 measurement devices helped make a grid restoration practice exercise measurable.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Energy Talks