NISO Strengthens Measures to Boost National Grid Stability

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) is amplifying its efforts to fortify the resilience and dependability of the national grid, according to a report by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja. Enhanced control systems, real-time monitoring technology, and new national control centres are key components of the organization's strategy, as disclosed by NISO's Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bello Mohammed, during a staff town hall meeting.

The organisation has made strides in preserving grid integrity and augmenting system reliability, with a recent synchronisation test involving Nigeria and 14 other African nations marking a significant technical achievement. This successful test underscored the critical role of improved coordination and technical prowess in managing interconnected electricity systems, particularly as Nigeria endeavors to bolster the resilience of its own network.

Mohammed highlighted that NISO is also investing in critical infrastructure and advanced technologies aimed at providing system operators with superior visibility and control over the grid. These include the construction of state-of-the-art National Control Centres, deployment of SCADA, EMS, AGC, telemetry, and IoT-based monitoring systems.

The latter, according to Mohammed, will bolster real-time visibility of grid conditions, elevate operational efficiency, and facilitate earlier detection of emerging issues. He cited the detection of irregularities along the Shagamu-Ikorodu transmission corridor via IoT-based monitoring as a testament to how enhanced visibility can aid in grid management, while investigations into the anomalies are currently underway.