Prospects of Custom Power Devices in Improving Reliability of Distribution Networks in Nigeria

Nigeria power distribution network is faced with enormous challenges such as consistent overloading of distribution lines and transformers, power outages due to various kinds of faults such as planned, unplanned and forced, high distribution line losses, poor power quality among others. The attempt by Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to solve power system challenges has resulted into the creation of eleven (11) distribution companies (Discos). These include Ibadan, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Jos, Benin, Eko, Ikeja, Kano, Yola, Abuja and Enugu. However the FGN did not consider the use of custom power devices in solving some of these problems inherent in the distribution networks. These devices are power electronic based with fast switching mechanism and has found vast application in distribution networks in developed countries. This paper considered the prospect of Custom Power (CP) devices such as Solid State Transfer Switch (SSTS), Dynamic Static Compensator (D-STATCOM), Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) and Unified Power Quality Controller (UPQC) in improving the efficiency of Nigeria distribution network.