A nationwide blackout in parts of Ghana on Thursday has raised concerns over the reliability and resilience of the country's power transmission system. The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) attributed the disruption to a trip in power transmission lines, with the incident being the second major system disturbance recorded in August.
ACEP Calls for Comprehensive Investigation
The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Benjamin Boakye, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the recurring trips on Ghana's 330kV transmission lines. According to him, fixing the switchyard at Akosombo may help prevent a total system collapse, but it will not address the underlying causes of the repeated line trips.
Mr Boakye explained that a trip on the 330kV line can trigger a cascade effect, with increased loads transferred to smaller lines and eventually causing a wider collapse of the power system. He stressed that investigations must therefore go beyond preventing a complete system collapse and focus on identifying why the high-voltage lines are repeatedly tripping.
Identifying the Causes
Mr Boakye said the causes of the trips on the 330kV line could range from relatively minor technical faults to more serious problems involving grounding and earthing systems. "There could be some minor ones, some could be major, some could be some ground faults, earthing systems," he said. He added that an audit should be able to isolate the causes and address them.
Targeted Investments Needed
Mr Boakye also called for targeted investments to ensure that disturbances on the transmission network do not cascade across the entire system. "Even with a one-size-one line, if the 330 does not trip, you're not going to have the 16-1 also tripping," he said. He emphasized the need to address the underlying issues and make targeted investments to prevent nationwide blackouts.
What's Next
The comments from Mr Boakye come amid renewed concerns over the reliability and resilience of Ghana's power transmission system. The incident has highlighted the need for a comprehensive investigation and targeted investments to prevent similar disruptions in the future. As the country continues to grapple with power outages, it remains to be seen whether the necessary steps will be taken to address the underlying issues and ensure a stable power supply.
Source: Joy Online
