The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says the power
grid has maintained uninterrupted stability for over 400 consecutive days.
Ndidi Mbah, TCN spokesperson, in a statement on Wednesday,
said the power grid operated without any major disruptions or systems collapse
within the period.
She said the milestone signifies a remarkable advancement in
the nation’s efforts at strengthening its power infrastructure and ensuring a
reliable and dependable electricity supply to distribution load centres for
onward distribution to customers nationwide.
“The sustained stability and reliability of the Nigerian power grid can be attributed to a combination of strategic measures and investments in the power system by the Management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN),” she said.
Mbah said some of the key elements that have contributed to
the feat include the “configuration and enforcement of free governor control,
effective under-frequency relay scheme, among others”.
She said TCN constituted a three-person to go round the
country for the “configuration and activation of primary reserve in
coordination with power stations and in line with the provisions in the Grid
code”.
“This committee devised a robust monitoring and enforcement
mechanism for generating station compliance after activating the unit governor
control,” the spokesperson said.
“This innovative approach,
known as free governor mode of operation (FGMO), automatically adjusts
generation in response to frequency changes, ensuring stability, reliability,
and reduced transmission losses.
“Under frequency relay scheme, counters the challenges posed
by occasional generation shortfalls and resulting frequency declines, TCN
implemented a strategic deployment of under frequency relay scheme.”
HOW THE SCHEME WORKS
The scheme, according to Mbah, operates in critical stages
to prevent frequency-related disruptions by initiating circuit breaker trips or
alerting network operators, thereby averting system collapses.
“TCN in-house
engineers deployed the loT/VPN for Enhanced Grid Visibility by creating an
interim solution utilizing lot sensors and devices. This real-time monitoring
capability aids proactive issue identification, preventing potential
disruptions,” she said.
“Efforts are ongoing to expand this visibility by
incorporating additional transmission stations through lot integration TCN successfully
carried out several Infrastructure Upgrades / N-1 contingency transforming the
grid from a radial network to a loop system through massive investment in
construction and dualisation of critical circuits, comprehensive modernization
of transmission infrastructure, including commissioning new transmission
stations and installing power transformers, has reinforced grid resilience and
operational flexibility.
“The company equally focussed on putting in place an
enhanced maintenance regime with regular inspections, prompt repairs, and
proactive preventive maintenance strategies to ensure the integrity of power
plants, transmission lines, and substations. This approach sustains
infrastructure health, operational reliability, and efficient power flow.
“Regular maintenance has equally ensured less equipment
downtime due partly to regular mechanised line trace which has prevented
vegetation from fouling transmission lines. This has helped reduce downtime
especially in forest areas where TCN transmission lines transverses.”
In Nigeria, power grid collapses are nearly a monthly
occurrence that plunges the country into darkness.
In September 2022, the national grid collapsed for the
eighth time in the year. Prior to that, the country had recorded more than 200
partial and total electricity grid system collapses from January 2010 to June
2022.
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