Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a UK power station is required to be able to make a "black start", i.e. from zero vaults and zero cycles, with no power input from the National Grid.

National Grid procure the Black Start service from providers that have the capability to start main blocks of generation from an on-site auxiliary generator, without reliance on external site supplies. It is not a requirement for all UK power stations to have this capability.

In the event of a Black Start, the service would require the provider to start up its main generator(s) and deliver power to start up sections of the National Transmission System and distribution network.