Hydropower and Transmission & Distribution Networks: The Backbone of the Power System in Sudan

Introduction :

Sustainable industrial development cannot be discussed without an integrated electrical system that starts from generation and ends at the consumer's panel. Despite the promotion of solar energy as a comprehensive alternative, transmission and distribution networks linked to hydropower remain the only practical and economical solution for factories and large institutions.

First : Hydropower: High Capital Investment and Low Operating Cost

It is a mistake to say that the cost of hydropower is zero. It is in fact a huge engineering project with its own costs:

- Construction costs: Construction of the dam, tunnels, turbines, and control systems.

- Operating costs: Maintenance of turbines, cooling systems, control gates, and reservoir management.

But the real advantage appears in the operating cost per kWh (OPEX). After the dam enters service, there is no fuel, no import, and no global price fluctuations. Therefore, the cost of hydropower kWh remains the lowest in the long term, the plant's lifespan exceeds 50 years, and the Availability Factor exceeds 90%.

Second : Thermal Generation: Its Role is Limited and Necessary as a Reserve

Thermal generation (steam - gas - diesel) cannot be eliminated, but its role is limited and defined from an engineering perspective:

A . As a reserve source (Spinning Reserve): To cover the deficit in the summer period and low water levels.

B . As a source close to load centers: To reduce losses in long transmission networks.

C . As a fast start-up time: Gas turbines enter service in 15 minutes, while a hydro turbine requires reservoir coordination.

The main problem with thermal is not technical but economic: the cost of fuel, oils, spare parts, and periodic overhauls every 8000 operating hours, which makes the cost of its kWh 3 to 4 times the cost of a hydro kWh, in addition to the high thermal wear and tear of the equipment.

Third : Why Can't Solar Energy Replace the Distribution Network?

From an engineering perspective, solar energy faces three obstacles that make it impractical for factories:

A- Low Power Density:

To produce 1 MW, you need 7000 square meters of panels. A factory with an area of 2000 square meters in the heart of the industrial area in Port Sudan or Khartoum, where would it get this space? The factory needs the space for production lines and warehouses, not for a power plant.

B- Capacity Factor:

The capacity factor of solar energy in Sudan does not exceed 22% (about 5.5 peak hours per day), while the capacity factor of hydropower reaches 60% and thermal 80%. A factory needs 24 hours of continuous operation.

C- Power Quality:

Industrial loads (motors, welding machines, furnaces) need high starting current and stability in voltage and frequency, which solar inverters cannot provide without a strong grid to support them.

Fourth : Diesel: An Emergency Solution, Not an Operating Solution

A 500 kVA diesel generator consumes 110 liters/hour, needs an oil change every 250 hours, an overhaul every 12,000 hours, and a resident maintenance team. It is intended for emergencies and to cover grid outages, not for continuous base operation.

Engineering Conclusion

The optimal system is: Hydropower as a cheap base load + Thermal generation as a strategic reserve + A strong transmission and distribution network and Bus Section and ATS panels that ensure continuity of supply.

Without a properly engineered distribution network, no generation source is of any use.

Bu Section Engineering Co.Ltd

A Sudanese engineering company specialized in the design and implementation of Main Distribution Boards MDB, Bus Section / Bus Coupler boards, Automatic Transfer Switch ATS panels, and low and medium voltage networks.

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الحمد لله، تم نشر تحليلنا الهندسي "التوليد المائي وشبكات النقل والتوزيع: العمود الفقري للكهرباء في السودان" على موقع الساقية برس، أحد أكبر المواقع الرسمية المتخصصة في أخبار السودان.

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