The Chinese leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei, is partnering with Bui Power Authority (BPA), Ghana’s second-largest power generation company, to enable them to leverage technology in its operations.
Bui Power Authority operates 404 Megawatts Hydro Electric Power Dam located on the Bui River in the Savannah Region, 5MW of Floating Solar PV plant on the Bui Dam reservoir and also developing a 250MW solar power plant of which 50MW is currently supplying power to the national grid.
The company also operates the Tsatsadu 45kW mini hydro power plant at Alavanyo Abehenease in the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region.
It is in the light of ensuring efficiency in the operations of these power infrastructures through technology that Huawei has partnered with the BPA.
On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, BPA and Huawei held a round table discussion where a section of Ghanaian journalists was allowed to interact with officials of the two institutions.
Speaking at the event, Edison Xie, Vice President of Corporate Communication at Huawei, said, “Our partnership with BPA is the reflection of the amalgamation of the determination to develop hydro energy and other renewable energy sources and to harness the benefits of ICTs that are propelling Ghana on its growth trajectory.”
He stated that Huawei is privileged to be part of the digital transformation journey in Ghana and is excited about the boundless possibilities that the future holds in Ghana with pumping power and energising growth.
According to him, Huawei’s eLTE solution installed at Bui Dam exemplifies how ICTs can optimise operations and enhance efficiency.
This broadband private network provides wireless coverage across the entire site, enabling real-time communication between the control office and the on-site workforce, and improving response times to maintenance requests and emergencies.
“This eLTE solution serves as the cornerstone of Bui Power Authority’s digital operation and supervision. It tackles the challenge of information silos by integrating and consolidating data from various sources, thus, enhancing coordination and decision-making within the organisation,” Mr. Xie said.
He added that Huawei’s solution can support the smooth evolution of the hydropower station to be a truly intelligent power production system, making sites safer and more efficient, to lay the groundwork for future intelligent solutions like water level detection and flow monitoring.
“Our work at the Bui hydro-solar hybrid dam reflects our efforts in leveraging the power of 5G, AI, and the Cloud to transform industries across the globe. Digital transformation is key to ensuring that industries can become more productive and can’t,” he emphasised.
In his remarks, the CEO of Bui Power Authority, Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi said, “To augment Ghana’s hydro generation, BPA has embarked on landmark initiatives which include the 250MWp Solar Project, out of which 50MWp have already been developed and connected to the National Interconnected Transmission System.
“I am glad to say that the Bui Solar Park uses the Huawei inverters and battery system, the first of its kind to be deployed in Africa,” he added.
In a speech read on behalf of the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, by the Technical Advisor to the Minister, Mr Kwabena Tandoh praised the collaboration between BPA & Huawei.
He further stated the deployment of Solar Plants within the Bui enclave demonstrates the success of the government’s strategy in developing renewable sources and utilising next-generation systems to provide stable access and supply of electricity for all Ghanaians.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com