INVITED SPEAKER

Interconnected Electrical Power System Operations and Cross Border Electricity Trading: A case study of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)

Mr. Edward Rugoyi
Botswana Power Corporation, Botswana

Abstract

The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) interconnection comprises up to 9 interconnected power systems of different sizes resulting in a large power system with generators of different sizes connected together via long transmission lines with high impedance. The power system is therefore susceptible to dynamic instability and hence small signal inter area oscillations with catastrophic consequences if system damping is lost or inadequate.
Further to the above stated constraint, the SAPP is expanding generation resources and transmission facilities in order to meet the increasing demand in the region to address the current supply – demand mismatch which if not adequately addressed renders the power system insecure due to lack of operating reserve margins.
The SAPP power utilities need to deal with power flow and frequency control of the interconnected power system through control area arrangements each equipped with automatic generation control facilities to enable control of the power system.
While depletion of surplus generation in the region has reduced cross border electricity trade somehow, the SAPP power market is expected to grow the bilateral contracts market and the Day Ahead Market (DAM) as members expand generation capacity in the next five to eight years.

Biography of the Invited Speaker

Engineer Edward Rugoyi holds the position of Director Transmission with the Botswana Power Corporation. Engineer Rugoyi has over 20 years of experience in the electricity sector and has vast experience in power system control, interconnected power system operations, electricity trading including power purchase agreements, power utility management and power sector reforms.
In particular Engineer Rugoyi has been involved in the structuring and development of the Southern African Power Pool cross border electricity trade protocols, establishment of the Southern African Power Pool Co-ordination Center and has negotiated several power purchase agreements which include inter utility cross border agreements for power import and export.