Multinational technology leader GE Gas Power in sub-Saharan Africa suggests that that physical distancing and working from home during the global Covid-19 pandemic have been primary enablers for digital transformation across many sectors, including the power sector.

During this period of uncertainty, power plant operators are re-evaluating emergency preparedness, employee health measures and the need to operate reliably with fewer on-site staff.

“We are seeing a major uptake in requests from customers for support, leveraging digital capabilities for power plant reliability and availability,” says GE Gas Power Services commercial executive Narendra Asnani.

This is possible through the implementation of GE Gas Power’s Predix-based digital solutions such as its asset performance management and its operations performance management packages.

Remote operations enable operators, technicians and supervisors to conduct contingency operations and ensure business continuity. It is a non-disruptive solution that can be installed in one working day and unit shutdown is not required.

Such solutions include a packaged software and appliance application that provides mobile operators access to essential on-site human-machine interface monitoring and control functions.

Further, he stresses that GE Gas Power’s first priority is the health and safety of its employees, and it is committed to providing a safe and secure workplace on its sites for all employees, customers, suppliers, vendors and guests.

GE Gas Power is implementing very strict environment, health and safety guidelines across all the company’s sites and operations on the continent, which includes using or supplying personal protective equipment and physical distancing.

“In addition, we have instituted work-from-home practices for all non-essential staff on our sites and continue to comply with all specific local and national regulations as directed by the respective governments,” he adds.

Asnani points out that governments can take advantage of low gas pricing to stimulate gas projects and attract more private partnerships in power sectors.

“This also presents a good opportunity for a country such as South Africa, to allow for private-sector leadership in its gas-to-power programme.”

Bringing its dormant or stranded generation capacity online offers a clear opportunity for many African nations, he adds.

“Currently, up to 25% of the 26 GW of installed gas generation capacity in the region is not operational,” stresses Asnani.

Contributing factors to this figure include gas supply shortages, technical issues and evacuation challenges. A large part of this stagnant power is also because of dormant turbines requiring repairs, commissioning or upgrades.

“Repowering these units will provide additional gas power in the short and medium term with significantly less capital outlay than that of a full greenfield project,” he points out.

He suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted many gaps in infrastructure and systems throughout Africa.

Additionally, while a substantial need for access to electricity remains in Africa, a lot of work is being done to continue adding much-needed power to the grid using gas power.

This work is evidenced by Asnani’s observation that, as little as six years ago, none of GE’s gas turbine units installed in sub-Saharan Africa were connected to its digital network, says Asnani.

He concludes that there are currently up to 50% of these gas turbine units enabled with remote monitoring, including independent power producers and utilities customers in South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Chad, Angola, Ghana and Tanzania.