Expert advocates digital substations for power distribution
WORRIED by the dilapidated state of substations nationwide, an expert has urged stakeholders to adopt the digital substation model to boost power distribution in the country.
On the tour of some substations in the country, Chief Executive Officer of Momas Systems Nigeria Limited, Kola Balogun, said continuous dependence on fuse- driven substations in the 21st Century was worrisome.
He said the objective of the visit was to provide a technical appraiser and alternative to the substations to enable them to provide an uninterrupted power supply.
He added that if the digital option is embraced, the substations would also reduce technical losses and give revenue assurance to the distribution companies ( Discos).
Balogun explained that what presently obtains in the substations negates the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) codes on functions and performance of the reactive compensation equipment at different voltage levels.
“Under the NERC distribution code, in addition to catering for active power demand, reactive components of power equipment should be studied and adequate measures are taken by installing reactive compensation equipment at different voltage levels in a phased manner to improve power factor and cause reduction of losses,” he said.
Balogun noted that apart from the basic functionality of the reactive compensation equipment, DISCOS must take power improvement measures at strategic points in the distribution system by carrying out system studies and installing the required reactive compensation equipment.