infoTECH Feature

January 07, 2009

BPLG and BPL Africa Deploy Smart Grid Solutions in Ghana for VRA

BPL Global (BPLG), a smart grid technology company, in partnership with BPL Africa has signed a five-year modern grid contract with Ghana's national utility, Volta River Authority (VRA).
 
As per the agreement, BPL will deploy smart grid technologies and broadband over power line communications technology on the 11kV power distribution network of VRA.
 
The solution includes BPLG's Power SG Network Monitoring and Management, Rapid Fault Location, Demand Management, Non-Technical Loss Management, Substation Automation, Transformer Monitoring and CCTV Security Systems. Broadband Communications solutions include broadband Internet access and VoIP telephony.
 
With these technologies, VRA is estimated to increase the productivity of their existing electrical network by delivering additional electricity and communications services.
 
According to VRA officials, Ghana’s demand for electricity has been increasing at a rate of 10 to 15 percent per annum for the last two decades. Thus an important consideration is to match the growth rate of electricity demand with adequate supply.
 
“BPL Global's Power SG solutions have successfully proven in deployments that important savings can be achieved with smart grid solutions that improve efficiency and reliability of energy distribution. We are very pleased through our partnership with BPLG to be able to deploy smart grid solutions that will greatly benefit quality of life and economic expansion in Ghana," said Dieudonne Bakarani, president of BPL Africa, who also stated that BPL Africa is presently finalizing plans for smart grid deployments in a number of other sub Saharan countries.
 
The company's Smart Grid helps in reducing the frequency and duration of outages, improve the balance of supply and demand, and improve operational efficiency.
 
"In building a modern grid, VRA is establishing themselves as a leader and innovator in electrical network technology. BPL Global's integrated demand management solution alone can proactively manage the load curve to optimize electricity supply and demand," said Pascal Julienne, executive director of BPL Global EMEA.
 
He explained that demand management and efficiency solutions are some of the most valuable investments a utility can make. As an alternative to building new generation, demand management can be deployed for about one-third of the investment.
 
"VRA's focus right now is to make sure that we produce reliable, stable and adequate power," said Owura Kwaku Sarfo, chief executive VRA. "To achieve our goal of efficient and reliable energy for Ghana, we have chosen BPL Global's Power SG smart grid solutions as we believe that building an intelligent and modern grid is our best investment in the future."
 
BPL Global deploys smart grid solutions around the world with the help of local utilities, Internet service providers, equipment suppliers and financiers to create end-to-end solutions integrating the best in software, communications, hardware and managed services.
 
Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is Fixed Service Strategies for Mobile Network Operators, brought to you by Comverse (News - Alert).

Jyothi Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Jyothi's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Michelle Robart
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