Important Materials and Deadlines

Jan. 20, 2025 | RFP documents will be posted

Jan. 8, 2025 | Bonfire registration open and materials posted:

• Blackstart Bonfire Site Access and Participation Agreement
• Blackstart Bonfire Site Access Instructions
• Blackstart Bonfire Site – Frequently Asked Questions
  
  

Stakeholder Update – Jan. 8, 2025

Following market sounding and initial feedback from stakeholders on the draft agreement last year, the AESO is launching a Request for Proposals (RFP) on January 20, 2025 for Blackstart Service in the NW area of Alberta.

We will be using Bonfire for this procurement. To access the associated Bonfire site, view the RFP documents and participate in the RFP process, one representative from each interested party must register and execute a Bonfire Site Access and Participant Agreement.

Enquiries relating to the RFP will be accepted until 3 p.m. on May 1, 2025 and the deadline for proposals is 3 p.m. on May 13, 2025.

Purpose

In the unlikely event of a system-wide blackout, Blackstart services are used to re-energize the transmission system and provide start-up power to generators who cannot self-start. Generators that provide Blackstart services in specific areas of the province must be able to restart their generation facility with no outside source of power.

To achieve the AESO’s mandate to oversee the safe, reliable and economic operations of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES), we have identified a need for Blackstart Services in Northwest Alberta and will be running a procurement process in 2025.

Any interested party that can provide Blackstart Services in the NW Planning Region by 2026, per the boundary identified in the map below, is invited to review the requirements and consider participating.

General information - Blackstart Services

Procurement Timeline

Minimum Requirements*

To provide Blackstart Service in the NW region, assets must:

• be located in the NW area of Alberta (see map below)
• have the ability to self-start the unit without the need for an electrical supply from the grid
• have the ability to close onto a de-energized bus
• be able to energize at least one cranking path, and have sufficient capability to start up at least one transmission-connected generator in the area; this is confirmed by performing engineering studies.

*To view a comprehensive overview of requirements for Blackstart Service, refer to AESO Blackstart for NW Planning Region Procurement Draft Requirements_v3.

Per the AESO NW Planning Region Transmission Map below, and subject to further engineering studies by the AESO, a blackstart resource is likely to be effective if it is located in one of the following planning areas: