WAMSTER synchrophasor network installed in Kenya

As a part of the UMEME 24/7 project, six STER PMU devices were successfully installed in Kenya by our German client Energynautics GmbH. The devices were installed with ease and are already measuring synchrophasor data, with preliminary analysis showing frequent instabilities and outages in their power grid.

Gathered synchrophasor data will provide valuable insight into the nation's grid condition and allow the researchers to devise solutions for the grid instability.

As an additional customization, WAMSTER has been configured to create automatic scheduled data exports of synchrophasor measurements directly to the client's FTP server, allowing the client to use their in-house tools for data aggregation and analysis.

UMEME 24/7: Creating a survey of the Kenyan power grid

The objective of the UMEME 24/7 project is to develop and test solutions that will improve power supply and stability for consumers in Kenya. Like many other developing countries, Kenya is plagued by both scheduled and unscheduled power outages during the day, which is a great nuisance to individuals, industry and the public sector, especially critical institutions like hospitals.

In the UMEME project the Alexandra Institute and its project partners, two SMEs Amplex and EnergyNautics, will develop solutions that aim to reduce the number of unscheduled power outages and optimise the use of the electric grid. This is to be achieved by ensuring that power disconnections or consumption reductions take place only when they cause the least inconvenience and when the consumers understand and accept them.

Considering the lack of wired communication infrastructure, frequent power outages and the large imbalance between energy supply and demand in Kenya, WAMSTER system has proven a cost effective and quickly deployable solution for synchrophasor measurements.

For the UMEME 24/7 project Energynautics investigated the grid stability in Kenya over a period of a year. Six of Wamster's PMUs were installed at strategic locations across Kenya and the data they recorded was uploaded to servers in Croatia via the local mobile data network.

As well as making the data available to us via the web interface, Wamster also processed the full high resolution data (50 frames per second) from the SD-Cards when they returned from Kenya and made the full data available to Energynautics. The service worked extremely well for us and the Wamster team were always available for questions and feedback.

Dr. Tom Brown, Energynautics GmbH
Keywords:
  • kenya
  • umeme 24/7
  • africa