₦airaland Forum

I recently explored the Nigeria Grid website, managed by TCN, which provides real-time updates on our electricity generation and transmission.

There's a common belief that during the rainy season, we experience more stable electricity supply due to the predominance of hydroelectric power. This is a misconception.

Nigeria generates electricity through three primary means: Gas, Steam, and Hydro. Contrary to popular belief, hydroelectric power constitutes only about 22% of our daily generation, while gas and steam account for the remaining 78%. This data is based on the generation profile for today, October 18th, 2024, as displayed on the NigGrid website.

Below is a chart I created with python using data from the website for October 18th. It shows the output of various generating plants for the day. While these values fluctuate daily, they provide a good average representation.

https://niggrid.org/GenerationProfile2

A country of 200 million + battling with under 5000MW of electricity.. .. my question still remains.. Who the F did we offend? 🤔😒😕

So Basically:

1. EGBIN (STEAM): 648.00
2. AZURA-EDO IPP (GAS): 441.00
3. JEBBA (HYDRO): 432.00
4. KAINJI (HYDRO): 421.00
5. DELTA (GAS): 361.00
6. ODUKPANI NIPP (GAS): 315.20
7. OKPAI (GAS/STEAM): 265.00
8. OLORUNSOGO (GAS): 194.40
9. OMOTOSHO (GAS): 189.00
10. OLORUNSOGO NIPP (GAS): 186.50
11. GEREGU (GAS): 132.00
12. PARAS ENERGY (GAS): 110.00
13. GEREGU NIPP (GAS): 80.00
14. AFAM IV & V (GAS): 75.00
15. OMOKU (GAS): 56.40
16. IBOM POWER (GAS): 53.40
17. DADINKOWA G.S (HYDRO): 40.28

phantomxx:
A country of 200 million + battling with under 5000MW of electricity.. .. my question still remains.. Who the F did we offend? 🤔😒😕

It is a sad thing honestly. We haven't tried at all since the 70s. Nothing spectacular is happening in that power sector all these years.

The surprising thing here is that individuals and state can now generate electricity but yet, no investment in that coz the populace won't be able to afford to pay the actual value of the electricity and that stifle growth and investment.

In March 2021, we did 5,801MW which was our highest ever.

OP
What's the difference between steam and gas power plant in terms of fuel in Nigeria?

Please take your time to answer that

Zionmdde:
OP
What's the difference between steam and gas power plant in terms of fuel in Nigeria?

Please take your time to answer that

We all know gas powered. Na open cycle gas turbines dey do that.

Let me explain the steam for you using Egbin plant as a case study. They are using a steam turbine which normally run on natural gas as the main fuel.

But you can also use other heavy fuel oil in case of shortage.

Nigeria wise, we can intend to group gas/steam together but they both run on different mechanism.

Thats why I called it out that Hydro is just 22%

Toh

LegendHero:
We all know gas powered.

Let me explain the steam for you using Egbin plant as a case study. They are using a steam turbine which normally run on natural gas as the main fuel.

But you can also use other heavy fuel oil in case of shortage.

Nigeria wise, we can intend to group gas/steam together but they both run on different mechanism.

Thats why I called it out that Hydro is just 22%

Alright that's why I put "in Nigeria " there
In Nigeria where there are no refineries we basically use gas for steam plants
So I believe both of the should be lumped together since the basic reason for the classification is to let us know what resources we need for the plants

15 trillion naira for the lagos calabar coastal highway translates to almost 10 billion dollars.

That amount can comfortably build a 10,000MW power plant

Cost to build a 100MW plant ranges between 80 and 120 million USD est (average of 100mill)

100miilion USD is approx 163billion naira

Rivers, Lagos and Kano can comfortably build a 100mw gas power plant WITHOUT BORROWING to fund the project.

In a state like Rivers , a 100mw power plant can comfortably give 8 to 10 local govts uninterrupted power supply.

Lagos can do a 500MW power plant with a proper financial structure.

Since the 1999, the only time Nigerians enjoyed electricity was during Obasanjo administration. Rain or not, there was constant electricity. I wonder why no government continued his NIPP project

@Legendhero Going by the data you provided I am tempted to agree with your submission BUT you didn't address the "misconception" because the question remains if our power grid runs on mostly gas how come we experience the worse power outages during that time of the year and obvious improvement during the rainy season?

Hydro at 22% is still a lot.

If you take most of that out of the generating capicity for the 4 - 5 months of little to no rain, that's still a few hours of no power per day.

It also means the gas powered generation operations will be under more pressure during that period, which will likely result in more breakdowns.

So, when all is said and done, while hydro is not as dominant as it used to be, there will still be a notable drop in power supply during the dry season.

Beremx:
Since the 1999, the only time Nigerians enjoyed electricity was during Obasanjo administration. Rain or not, there was constant electricity. I wonder why no government continued his NIPP project

Respectfully, this is a big lie. Even during Obasanjo, we no get stable electricity.

Also our population is not this much during Obasanjo and yet no constant light.

Infact, those 60s we always claim we had constant light could be because we have less urban centers and the development was not widespread as we have now.

Rebelutionary:
@Legendhero Going by the data you provided I am tempted to agree with your submission BUT you didn't address the "misconception" because the question remains if our power grid runs on mostly gas how come we experience the worse power outages during that time of the year and obvious improvement during the rainy season?

It is just misconception. It is a myth and a kind of inconspicuous bias that we inherited from our parents.

It is the same myth where people say “Nigeria is a rich country”.

The only thing I know some years back was that if rain is falling, Nepa usually take the light. But in recent time, that has changed.

Now in most area, if rain dey fall, light go still dey without they cutting it off.

Be practical oga

Na for raining season light Dey Dey

Then the useless government officials go come Dey make mouth

DeLaRue:
Hydro at 22% is still a lot.

If you take most of that out of the generating capicity for the 4 - 5 months of little to no rain, that's several hours of no power per day.

I guess your point is that Hydro is not as dominant as it used to be.

Nope, during dey season, Hydro still work and generate electricity. Infact, it will surprise you that there are times when Kainji generate more in dry season compared to rainy season.

Now let’s say hypothetically, that 22% reduces to 15% during dry season, that is still not enough data point to say “Rainy season” affect electricity generation in Nigeria to even have over 30% less reduced electricity output.

LegendHero:
Nope, during dey season, Hydro still work and generate electricity. Infact, it will surprise you that there are times when Kainji generate more in dry season compared to rainy season.

Now let’s say hypothetically, that 22% reduces to 15% during dry season, that is still not enough data point to say “Rainy season” affect electricity generation in Nigeria to even have over 30% less reduced electricity output.

Interesting - that Kainji generate more during dry season.

LegendHero:
There's a common belief that during the rainy season, we experience more stable electricity supply due to the predominance of hydroelectric power. This is a misconception.

First of all, nice work with your Python graphic.

Back to the part of your post I quoted, especially the bolded, while I get the point you are trying to make, it may not necessarily be a misconception for two reasons:

1. Assuming Hydro contributes only 22% in the generation mix (I am assuming because the data you used may not have captured some hydro plants, e.g. Zungeru), it means that during the dry season, that contribution would reduce. Assuming hydro contribution reduces to say 10% it means 12% generation is lost. This means 12% of the power available is lost and that equivalent amount of load has to be dropped from the grid. The implication is that the remaining power has to be rationed. This would mean if a consumer was initially enjoying 24 hours of electricity, it may drop to about 21 hrs. Therefore, you actually enjoy a more stable electricity with the Hydro despite its comparative smaller contribution to the generation mix.

2. If you look at the location of the Hydro plants, they are concentrated in the north-western part of the grid. What this means is that it is cheaper to supply areas closer to the plants (load pockets in the Northwest and parts of middle belt). When you lose most of this generation during the dry season, those load pockets will need to be supplemented from far away generation. It is more expensive to do so, plus there may be transmission constraints due to power carrying capacity of the transmission lines. What this means is that the power available at these locations is reduced leading to rationing. Furthermore, those areas down south where we have most of the gas-powered plants will also experience more rationing because more power is being directed northwards.

Zionmdde:
Alright that's why I put "in Nigeria " there
In Nigeria where there are no refineries we basically use gas for steam plants
So I believe both of the should be lumped together since the basic reason for the classification is to let us know what resources we need for the plants

You are right. But even the Niggrid themselves differentiate them and I guess that’s because they use different mechanism.

Even tho they both might be powered with gas, they are still different with how they work.

DeLaRue:
Interesting - that Kainji generate more during dry season.

You can read this research paper. They used 30 year data from Kainji dam to reach their conclusion.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yakubu-Yusuf/publication/303585273_Effect_of_Weather_Parameters_on_Hydroelectric_Power_Generation_in_Kainji_Dam_Niger_State_Nigeria/links/5749438808ae5f7899b9df41/Effect-of-Weather-Parameters-on-Hydroelectric-Power-Generation-in-Kainji-Dam-Niger-State-Nigeria.pdf