Explore What Happens When Utilities Go Dark
“Black-Start” Exercises (BSEs) are designed to test the military’s resilience in
the face of a major power outage or other utility failures. Concurrent Technologies
Corporation (CTC) has a diverse and deep bench of experts experienced in the skills
needed to plan and conduct successful exercises.
Background
- Black Start Exercises effectively evaluate preparedness for extended commercial
power loss.
- OSD identified BSEs as a means to test infrastructure and equipment supporting critical
energy needs.
- Past BSEs identified both technology and planning gaps that impact resiliency posture.
- Section 2864 of the National Defense Authorization Act requires the Secretary of
Defense to conduct black start exercises.
Strategy
- Test the ability of the backup systems to start, transfer load, and carry load until
commercial power is restored.
- Align stakeholders on critical energy requirements to meet mission requirements.
- Validate mission operations plans.
- Identify mission interdependencies.
- Verify backup electric power system performance.
Experience
- CTC is an independent, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional
services organization.
- CTC has vast DoD experience in energy and water security, cybersecurity, mission
thread analysis, and mission critical infrastructure.
- Our approach ensures compliance with guidance in developing solutions informed by
stakeholders to ensure available and reliable utility systems for each of the installation’s
critical mission requirements.
Concurrent Technologies Corporation’s ProteCTC™ program integrates a wide range
of best-in-class protection and resilience solutions to identify, prioritize, and
protect your critical infrastructure through an integrated business and technical
approach.
CTC’s SOAR Test and Exercise Services
- Estimated 6-8 month period of performance (POP).
- Exercise conducted 6 weeks prior to the POP end.
- Prior leadership engagement and quick data submission can shorten the POP.
- Government delays reviewing planning documents can extend the POP.
- Scope of the exercise includes
- Utility interconnections
- Substations
- On-site generation assets
- Critical assets requiring monitoring
