Smart Grid and Distributed Generation: A Panacea for Nigeria’s Power Problems

Abstract

The inadequacy of the power supply in Nigeria seems to have defied all solutions proffered over the years by experts. The involvement of the private sector which became necessary by the unbundling of the singular public utility company Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has done little to improve the situation. This paper proposes the use of smart grid and distributed generation to improve the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power in the country. Smart Grid technologies which incorporates communication technologies into the conventional grid as we know, brings about adequacy in generation, transmission and distribution of power, which has so far been lacking in the contemporary Nigerian society. The communication systems incorporated in the smart grid allows a two-way communication between the utility company and consumers. This is needed in a situation such as ours as it gives consumers the power to regulate their consumption while giving the utility companies real time online information from the consumer end. Distributed generation on the other hand makes it possible to incorporate renewable energy sources which the country has in abundance into the power supply mix. This paper discusses the various benefits derivable from the use of these technologies as a solution to the epileptic and inadequate supply presently experienced in the country.