The Africa Continental Power System Master Plan (CMP) modelling team has over the past few months  successfully completed three specialized trainings by AUDA-NEPAD and GET.transform , providing a basis for completing the network studies for the CMP. 

The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), which was mandated by the AU Energy ministers to lead the development of the CMP has organised a series of specialised trainings to support the African power pools in enhancing their transmission network planning capacity. The CMP is the blueprint of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) and is integral in analysing and solving Africa’s energy challenge.

Electricity demand in Africa is expected to triple by 2040 due to rapid industrialisation, migration to cities, rising household incomes, and effects of climate change. This will require a concerted effort to plan and coordinate power generation and transmission infrastructure on a continental scale. Developed under the coordination of AUDA-NEPAD, the CMP brings together over 100 African energy stakeholders to rethink Africa’s energy planning and co-create solutions to tackle energy poverty.

The last of the three specialised trainings transmission modelling using PSS®E provided by AUDA-NEPAD with GET.transform support on continental grid capacity expansion planning was held online from 22 – 26 May 2023. Twenty-two representatives from AUDA-NEPAD and five regional power pools [the Central Africa Power Pool (CAPP), the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), the East Africa Power Pool  (EAPP), the Maghreb Electricity Committee (COMELEC) and the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP)] were trained on aspects related to optimal power flow, advanced linear power flow analysis and translation of generation capacity expansion results to network modelling software. The specialised training was provided by Siemens and Energynautics with support from the European Union’s Global Technical Assistance Facility (G-TAF). 

The advanced skills learnt through the three specialised trainings have enabled the CMP modelling team (AUDA-NEPAD, CAPP, SAPP, EAPP, COMELEC, WAPP, EU G-TAF) to refine the CMP network modelling approaches and provided a solid basis for completing the network studies for the CMP.

About the CMP

The CMP is the masterplan for Africa’s Green Vision, creating one grid for one continent. It is implemented by AUDA-NEPAD, supported by the European Union - Global Technical Assistance Facility (EU-GTAF), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The CMP aims to curb the electricity deficit and allow a well-balanced sharing of affordable, reliable and clean energy resources.