Power supply in West Africa is set to see significant improvements due to a collaboration between GE Vernova and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). GE Vernova announced the deployment of its GridOS orchestration software at the newly completed Information and Coordination Centre (ICC) in Abomey-Calavi, Benin. This center will play a crucial role in transforming the region’s energy landscape through the West African Power Pool (WAPP) initiative.
The ICC will act as the centralized command center for the interconnected power grids of 14 ECOWAS member countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. This establishment represents a significant milestone toward creating a unified power market, which aims to deliver more reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy across West Africa.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) Africa Energy Outlook 2022, Africa’s GDP is projected to grow by an average of 4.6% annually between 2022 and 2040, leading to a 2.8% annual increase in energy demand and a doubling of electricity consumption by 2040. The ICC, powered by the West Africa Power Pool, is positioned to bridge the gap between rising energy needs and reliable supply by expanding power capacity and enhancing forecasting capabilities.
Equipped with state-of-the-art electric grid management technologies, the ICC utilizes various components of GE Vernova’s GridOS software. Key features include:
- Energy Management System (EMS): Designed for efficient dispatching.
- Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS): Focused on maintaining grid stability.
- Advanced Market Management System: Facilitates power trading among ECOWAS nations.
Additionally, the ICC integrates GE Vernova’s GridOS forecasting solution to maximize the value of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) in the electricity market through advanced forecasting and ramping tools. This integration allows engineers to access near real-time data on energy flow within the WAPP interconnected network, enabling effective monitoring, analysis, and optimization of power distribution.
Mahesh Sudhakaran, General Manager for GE Vernova’s Grid Software business, expressed pride in partnering with WAPP, emphasizing the importance of modern software capabilities to automate grid operations and increase energy transaction rates across the region. GE Vernova has a track record of working with national electric utilities and regional power pools in Africa, contributing to the continent’s energy transition with initiatives like the recently inaugurated Coordination Control Center in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
This partnership marks a critical step forward for West Africa, aligning with the region’s goals for energy sustainability and enhanced grid resilience.