The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has inaugurated a Network Monitoring System Development Committee in order to bolster grid stability and reduce power system disturbances.
Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager, Public Affairs disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
She explained that the committee aims to create an advanced monitoring system with real-time data analysis to optimize grid operations.
Led by Engr. Ojo Thomas Oladeji, the committee will utilize Phase Measuring Units (PMU) and existing IoT data to achieve its goals.
According to Mbah, the system will serve as a backup to the ongoing SCADA system upgrade and will integrate IoT and AI technologies to enhance grid management.
Executive Director Engr. Nafisat Ali emphasized the need for this system due to the increasing complexity of the power network, which currently relies on manual operations with limited visibility.
The statement said: “In a strategic effort to enhance grid stability and mitigate power system disturbances, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has inaugurated a Network Monitoring System Development Committee.
“The committee’s primary objective is to design and implement an advanced monitoring system equipped with integrated data analysis and real-time operational awareness capabilities to ensure optimization of generation and transmission resources in our grid operations.
“At the committee’s inauguration, the Executive Director, Independent System Operations (ISO), Engr. (Mrs) Nafisat Ali highlighted the importance of this initiative.
“She noted that the System Operator is responsible for managing the entire power system network, which includes planning and monitoring operations.
“However, the current manual operation poses challenges in terms of visibility and tracking the activities of various stakeholders. Engr. Nafisat mentioned that the increasing complexity of the power system necessitates the development of a comprehensive Network Monitoring System.
“The Committee Chairman, Engr. Ojo Thomas Oladeji, who is also the Assistant General Manager (Research) at ISO, noted that TCN’s in-house engineers have proficiently maintained the system with locally developed solutions. He also mentioned that the committee intends to leverage the capabilities of Phase Measuring Units (PMU) along with existing IoT data to meet its goals.
“The eight-member committee will employ domestic technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), to develop the Network Monitoring System. This system will be operational prior to the completion of the ongoing work on the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System and will subsequently serve as a backup.
“The comprehensive deployment of IoT throughout the grid network, coupled with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools across generation, transmission, and distribution data processing, will significantly enhance the project’s success”.
