Explained: The frequent failures of Nigeria’s national power grid

Explained: The frequent failures of Nigeria’s national power grid

BUSINESS DAY

The frequent collapses of Nigeria’s national electricity grid have become a recurring nightmare for residents and businesses.

In one week, the country experienced a series of power outages, leaving millions without electricity for extended periods.

Power grid

A power grid is a network of electrical transmission lines that connects several generating stations to loads spread across a large area.

Generator stations, transmission lines and towers, and individual consumer distribution lines comprise the power grid.

Reason for national grid collapse by Habu Sadiek, power sector analyst

National grid is the interconnections of high transmission wires/cables across the country.

Grid frequency measures the demand and supply of electricity despatch to consumers from the Gencos.

Frequency meters are measured in hertz (Hz).

Based on the grid code, our normal frequency level is supposed to be 50Hz.

Example:

If the current power generation is 4000MWh and people are using all the 4000MWh, then supply is equal to demand, and frequency should be 50Hz.

This is a perfect condition that is highly unlikely.

If we are generating 4000MWh and People are using 3700Mwh, then obviously supply is higher than demand, and for that reason, the frequency will show you 51Hz.

If we are generating 4000MWh and people are trying to use 4200MWh, demand is higher than supply, and for that reason, the frequency will show 49Hz.

I know you will ask me how you can be generating 4000MWh and be trying to use 4200MWh.

Take, for instance, your using I-pass-my-neighbour generator, and you’re trying to connect 2HP A.C. with microwave on the generator.

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Explained: The frequent failures of Nigeria’s national power grid

 

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