March 29, 2024

Grid Management: TCN sets to decentralise power system control, and builds new centres in Abuja

Samuel Agbelusi

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)said that it is intensifying efforts to decentralise the power system control centre in Osogbo through the establishment of a second national control centre in Abuja, for regional grid operations, monitoring, and control within the transmission network operated by the Nigerian System Operator.

Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, Managing Director, TCN made this known in a statement presented on his behalf by Malam Yusuf Bako, Lead, Advocacy Team, Nigerian Power Consumers Forum, in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja.

EnergyDay gathered that the proposed Abuja electricity control when completed is expected to serve as the second national power control centre after the one in Osogbo, Osun.

He said the control centres will improve the robustness of the Nigerian electricity grid and ensure that technology systems will improve the stability of the national grid.

He said “The government is doing a lot to improve the power sector and that is why we always encourage Nigerians to support us by helping to guard critical national infrastructure.

“We believe that as more of the investments and our transmission expansion projects materialise, Nigerians will experience more improved electricity supply.

“This is the goal of TCN and I strongly believe that we are not resting on our oars to deliver on this mandate.

“This preparation is coming at a time when Nigerian power operators are gearing up to take part in electricity export as soon as the Regional Electricity Market (REM) of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) is launched.”

Abdulaziz noted that the move became important, arising from the need to address redundancy and position Nigeria in anticipation of further expansion of the grid and the power sector in general.

Abdulaziz however noted that the control centres would further improve the robustness of the Nigerian electricity grid.

He also noted that the National Control Centre and other technology systems will improve the stability of the national grid.

Engr.  Abdulaziz further confirmed that the technology for real  SCADA would encourage real-time grid operations and management at the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo, Osun.

”Which we have understudied in other countries to be very efficient in boosting real-time electricity grid monitoring,” he said.

He said, ”The government is doing a lot to improve the power sector and that is why we always encourage Nigerians to support us by helping to guard critical national infrastructure.

“We believe that as more of the investments and our transmission expansion projects materialise, Nigerians will experience more improved electricity supply.

“This is the goal of TCN and I strongly believe that we are not resting on our oars to deliver on this mandate.

“This preparation is coming at a time when Nigerian power operators are gearing up to take part in electricity export as soon as the Regional Electricity Market (REM) of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) is launched,”  he said.

The TCN boss said that with the improved collaboration of other players in the electricity value chain, the company had been able to reduce cases of system collapse.

He said that this was done through real-time monitoring of operations at the various power transmission substations nationwide, and live interaction with operators at the power plants and Distribution Company’s injection substations.