‘We need to solve the complex equation of energy transition & grid reliability’

London — According to Wärtsilä Energy, a leading power plant manufacturer and energy systems integrator in Africa, there are multiple constraints to be taken into account in order to increase the share of renewables while guaranteeing more reliable power production.

To solve this complex equation, it said the issues of making the energy system more flexible, anticipating technological developments, and financing must be addressed effectively. These were the key issues discussed at the 2024 North and West Africa Energy Transition Forum in Rabat, which brought together the major public and private players in the energy sector in the region.

“The region’s power grids are under great stress, with permanent constraints leading to chronic instability,” explained Marc Thiriet, Africa Energy Business Director at Wärtsilä Energy. “At the same time, they need to be developed at a rapid pace to cope with the expected increase in demand for electricity, which is increasingly coming from renewable energy sources. Grids, which already have to adapt to highly fluctuating demand downstream, will also have to manage an increased volume of intermittent solar and wind power generation upstream, which will make grid management work much more complex “.

This is why more flexible electricity generation must be added. This flexibility comes Power grid primarily from so-called “balancing” technologies, i.e. battery storage on the one hand, and flexible engine power plants on the other. Unlike storage, balancing engine technology is relatively unknown to the general public, yet these power plants have already been deployed for many years in almost all African countries (e.g. Tan-Tan, a 116MW engine power plant in Morocco).

This technology is in great demand because of its many advantages, particularly in terms of operating efficiency, which makes it well-suited to the unique conditions in Africa, such as heat, humidity and unstable fuel supply. In particular, balancing engine power plants are able to ramp up and download very quickly to meet the multiple daily fluctuations in electricity demand and renewable generation.