Huawei, in collaboration with Bui Authority, has constructed an eLTE broadband private network. This is aimed at breaching the significant concrete barriers and infrastructure of Ghana’s Bui Power Plant.
This is the first time Huawei has deployed an eLTE-based solution in the hydropower industry, with the network offering voice, video, and data services to allow for rapid communication between the control room and maintenance personnel traveling about the plant.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Africa’s renewable energy capacity might reach 310GW by 2030, propelling the continent to the forefront of green energy production. The Bui Power Authority (BPA) hydro-solar hybrid power facility in Ghana is setting the standard in Sub-Saharan Africa, Huawei’s eLTE Broadband Network provides crucial communication and operational management services.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Ghana’s Energy Minister, stressed the necessity of ICT systems in providing intelligent energy management, which is vital in guaranteeing effective power generation, power plant operations, and power distribution.
According to Prempeh, ICT systems enable renewable energy to be incorporated into the grid, resulting in the reliable, stable access and supply required to meet the country’s goal of universal power access by 2025.
“As Ghana works toward universal electricity access by 2025, it is critical that we unleash the transformative power of ICT in optimizing power plant operations, increasing the efficiency of renewable energy use, and ensuring a stable and cost-effective power supply to many more households nationwide,” minister said.
An engineer at Huawei who did not want his name printed revealed that establishing contemporary networks provides capacity for development, allowing the site to undergo sensible digital transformation in the future.
“With features like “push-to-talk” and group calls for both voice and video, the private network makes routine maintenance and handling of emergencies easier and more efficient at the power plant,” he explained. “Staff can now communicate via video call to resolve maintenance issues in record time.”
The first phase of the 250MW project, the creation of a Solar PV Facility, began in October 2019. Furthermore, the Bui Power Authority (BPA) has commissioned a 5MW Floating Solar Plant, the first in the Sub-Saharan region, which delivers power to the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS) via the Bui Switchyard.
