Synchrophasor for enhancing operational reliability of Nigerian electric power grid

With the present state of electric power infrastructure and power delivery across Africa, there is the need for more effective utilization of the available infrastructure while they are being upgraded both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitatively refers to capacity, and qualitatively relates to the necessary infrastructures that enhance operations and reliability. This paper looks into the Nigerian electric power grid and establishes some of its major vulnerabilities and their possible remedies. It also proposes the deployment of synchrophasor technology to enhance the operations reliability of the grid. It goes on to establish the number and locations of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) that could adequately monitor the transmission network and the estimated cost of deploying the synchrophasor into the Nigerian electric power grid to enhance its operations.