Centralized and Distributed Generated

Power Systems

J. KENFACK
Ing. Ph. D.
Issues for centralized and Distributed Generated Power Systems

• strengths and weaknesses associated with Centralized Generation (CG)

• strengths and weaknesses associated with Distributed Generation (DG)
• grid system.
• development of indices for an economical scale study of DG relative to CG,
• consider which is the most cost-effective to accommodate (new) markets.
• assess the robustness of DG and CG under different load conditions,
• indices for measuring the combination of CG/DG with respect to their
capability and resilience to handling unforeseen events.
• This leads to development of new tools with stability measures and
reliability as constraints
 Questions to ask
• To what extent are economies of scale still relevant for CG/DG?
• Which is the most cost effective combination of DG and CG infrastructure?
• To what extent does DG or CG improve system resilience to unforeseen
events?
• What is the most attractive combination of DG and CG infrastructures to
maximize system resilience due to unforeseen events?
• To what extent does DG or CG improve sustainability (i.e., decrease
emissions and diminish other environmental impacts)?
• What is the most attractive combination of DG and CG infrastructures to
maximize system sustainability?
 THE CASE OF CAMEROON

Cameroon
• 22 million people
• 0,721 GW hydro installed capacity
• 20 GW hydropower potential
(huge)
• Three isolated Grids
• Three large hydro plants above 70
MW
• No small hydro in operation

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Existing HYDRO PLANTS plants (since 1985)

• 3 existing plants feeding two radial grids

1. Edea hydro plant with 276 MW
2. Song Loulou 384 MW
3. Lagdo 72 MW
• 4 Old storage dams (total capacity below 8km3)
1. Mape
2. Lagdo
3. Bamendjin
4. Mbakaou
• 1 new storage dam (7km3)

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 SMALL HYDRO SITUATION

CAMEROON OWNS THE HIGHEST SMALL HYDRO CAMEROON IS THE LAST COUNTRY IN SMALL HYDRO
POTENTIAL IN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Cameroon: Electricity production

IMPORTANT
THERMAL PLANTS
IN OPERATION TO
RAISE END USER
VOLTAGE ON
POWER LINES

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 Cameroun: institutional perspective
• 1998: privatisation of the national operator and liberalisation of the
production
• 2011: new electricity law (IPP, TSO, renewable energy obligations, etc.)
• Goals:
• Double access rates by 2020 (realistic ???)
• 4.8 to 8.3 GW additional capacity by 2035
• Interconnections with neighbouring countries (demand above 6 GW)
• Constraints:
• Limited grid capacity
• Limited grid costs and of grid expansion
• Should develop distributed generation
• Financial resources

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 Owns 44%

Presidency Owns 100%

Directs the
general policy of
EDC SONATREL KPDC Actis
the energy sector
Owns 44%
Owns 56%
Concession
Government contract
- MINEE
- MINFI
ENEO
Owns 44%

Regulate
- MINEPAT

Regulates

s
Regulates
Appoints 5 of the 9 Supply
members contracts
AER ARSEL
Provides customers through rural electrification
Customers
Owns 53%
Alucam Race
 Sustainable small hydro (1)
• -> Projected architecture for small hydro • END USER VOLTAGE LEVEL
INCREASE (160v instead of
LARGE HYDRO END USER 230v in some localities)
PLANTS
• ISLAND MODE (address issue
90kV LONG
of selective power cut)
END USER DISTANCE HIGH
VOLTAGE GRID
• PUMP STORAGE
(HUNDREDS OF KM) OPPORTUNITY
• SUSTAIN SOLAR PLANTS
LOCAL MEDIUM DEVELOPMENT
VOLTAGE GRID
PUMP
END USER
• SUSTAIN WIND PLANTS
STORAGE DEVELOPMENT
• BETTER MANAGEMENT OF
SMALL PEAK LOAD (18H-21H)
SOLAR/WIND SMALL HYDRO
PLANT PLANT • LOCAL JOBS

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Sustainable small hydro (2)

• 15 MW Mekin small hydro

plant under construction in
Cameroon

• Will feed 154 km - 30

kV power line

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 DG Technology
• DG is not a new concept, utility consumers have been using DG for
decades.
• But sparked broader interests in distributed generation since 1990s.
• DG is power generation built near consumers.
• DG sources include small-scale, environmentally-friendly technologies
(e.g., small hydro, photovoltaic and wind)
• installed on and designed primarily to serve a single end user’s site.
• But when reliability and power quality issues are critical, DG most
often includes more traditional fossil fuel fired reciprocating engines
or gas turbines (poor we)
 DG Technology
• The limited generation in the power sector continually exacerbated by load
growth (up to 7%),
• Manpower is required to achieve the development of a sustainable, secured, and
economically-viable society and infrastructure (remote areas)
• The growth in developed and developing countries has created an energy divide
in terms of wealth.
• properly planned and operated DG can provide consumers, as well as society,
with a wide variety of benefits.
• Many utilities have installed DG on their systems (ENEO with thermal, solar)
• The interconnection of DG with the electric grid continues to pose genuine safety
and reliability risks for the utility (Mekin).
• DG could reduce the demand for traditional utility services.
• Given the potential, small hydro is essential given the potential
 CG Technology
• Central Generation or CG is the electric power production by central
station power plants that provide bulk power.
• Large hydro is mainly used, but also thermal plants,
• Plants require costly management of large infrastructures.
• Their limitations, in terms of efficiency and environmental impact as
well as stability to sustain them, have given rise to renewable energy
resource options for researchers and policy-makers.
• In Cameroon, a direction of renewable energy created in the Ministry
of Water and Energy
 Criteria for CG/DG Comparison
• involve the economies of scale study of DG relative to CG, and
consider the most cost-effective combination that can accommodate
new markets.
• Economies of scale: size of the units (cost of electricity production).
• High energy efficiency: gains in efficiency (flat curve)
• Innovation in electricity transmission (DC/AC)
• A search for reliability
• Environmental constraints (power lines…)
• Remoteness
 ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
• Continuous power
• Cost
• Peaking power
• Resiliency
• Reliability
• sustainability
 GRID CONNECTED SHP IN CAMEROON

• Feed in possible by law

• Feed in tariff yet to come
• Grid code yet to come
• Ongoing projects to serve as pilot
STAND ALONE SYSTEM
FOUMBOT
NETWORK MV&LV
Site of Djechi for practicals
Site River Latitude Longitude Altitude
Djéchi Mouankeu 5.15031 10.15221 1086
 Site of Manjo for practicals
Manjo falls upstream: Altitude 552m Manjo falls downstream: Altitude: 501
 conclusion
• Centralised/Decentralised small hydro to increase energy
access, efficiency (network) and security
• Assess the selection criteria
• Small and medium sized plant for regular customer including
industrial and agribusiness off-takers
• Solution for remote areas connected or not connected
• Small hydro to sustain promotion of other renewables
• Small hydro should be a key for renewable energy master
plan

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