The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced ongoing efforts to put an end to the frequent grid collapses plaguing the nation.
TCN’s Managing Director, Mr. Sule Abdulaziz, revealed that the company is preparing to procure spinning reserves, which are crucial in mitigating the grid collapses that have been disrupting the country’s power supply.
In an interview with journalists, Abdulaziz reassured the public of TCN’s commitment to addressing the persistent challenges affecting Nigeria’s unstable power supply. He pointed out that the absence of adequate spinning reserves has been a significant factor contributing to the frequent grid failures.
“Spinning reserve refers to the amount of unused capacity in online energy assets, which can compensate for power shortages or frequency drops within a given period,” Abdulaziz explained.
He also highlighted TCN’s plans to install Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) devices at critical points on the grid. These devices are designed to maintain grid voltage within specified limits, thereby addressing voltage issues that can lead to instability. “Some nodes on the grid are prone to high or low-voltage problems. FACTS devices help resolve these issues, which in turn strengthens the grid,” he added.
Abdulaziz emphasized that the reliability of the grid improves with redundancy. “These redundancies will help further stabilize the grid, reducing its susceptibility to faults that can lead to collapse,” he noted.
To achieve the purchase of spinning reserves, Abdulaziz stated that TCN would require the cooperation of key investors in the power sector. He also stressed the importance of continuous maintenance of power facilities to enhance the consistency of the power supply.
