The Rural Electrification Agency has established a control room centre in Nigeria to monitor mini-grids.
According to The Punch, this updated Energy Management System has been implemented nationwide by the federal government to monitor mini-grids, which are smaller electrical systems.
The Rural Electrification Agency office in Abuja serves as the system’s headquarters.
This centre serves as an off-grid electricity control room. It is a location where they may supervise and collect data on these smaller power systems that are not linked to Nigeria’s main electrical grid.
The environmental impact can be monitored along with real generation, battery charging systems, solar radiation, reduction rates of carbon emissions, and discharge systems, thanks to the EMS.
The Director of Renewables and Rural Access at the Ministry of Power, Engr. Abubakar Dapshima, represented the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who stated that the EMS is more than just a tool. It addresses the issue of Nigerians not having adequate information about electricity.
He clarified that this approach is essential to obtaining better and more precise energy statistics. With accurate data, they may endeavour to improve the accessibility, dependability, and environmental quality of energy.
Additionally, he stated that in order to expand the nation’s electrical grid, this approach will alter how they manage and apply energy data across all of their plans.
The Energy Management System (EMS) for integrated energy management and control is anticipated to offer state-of-the-art energy management that can support all mini-grids in the nation, according to the REA.
As of September 2022, the REA had 65 finished small grids dispersed around the country thanks to collaborations with the World Bank and the African Development Bank. They also installed more than 770,000 solar-powered homes at that time, improving the lives of more than 3.5 million Nigerians.
The International Renewable Energy Agency published a report on off-grid renewable energy in December 2022. It concentrated on Tier-1 and Tier-2+ solar mini-grids.
Systems that have a peak capacity of more than one watt and provide the least amount of electricity during specific consumption hours are known as Tier-1 solar mini-grids.
It is estimated that from 2018 to 2021, these mini-grids served roughly 78,000 Nigerians, with the number being constant over this time.
They supply power for about four hours during the day and slightly more than two hours at night. Certain lighting is available to users of Tier-1 mini-grids for activities like stitching, radio listening, and phone charging.
However, solar mini-grids with Tier-2 and above certifications have a peak capacity greater than 20 watts.
From 54 in 2016 to 91,000 in 2019, the number of Nigerians utilizing these upgraded systems increased and remained constant until 2021. During the day, these mini-grids provide power for more than 4 hours, and in the nighttime, for roughly 2 hours.
General lighting, TV, computer, radio, phone charging, air conditioning, printing, and specialized task illumination for sewing are all available to those linked to Tier-2 mini-grids.
