BPL Global has signed a 5-year modern grid contract in partnership with BPL Africa, with Ghana's national utility, Volta River Authority (VRA). The agreement implements smart grid technologies and broadband over power line (BPL) communications technology on the 11kV power distribution network of VRA. Ghana is making a transformational investment in its electrical and communications infrastructure to accelerate economic development. The modern grid investment allows VRA to significantly increase the productivity of its existing electrical network by delivering additional electricity and communications services.

In July 2008, BPLG and BPL Africa deployed a pilot project for VRA demonstrating a modern grid. VRA declared the pilot project a great success, exceeding its goals for return on investment, improved energy efficiency and service reliability. Consequently, VRA has decided to deploy the smart grid and BPL solutions across its power distribution network. Phase 1 of the project provides services to the following areas: Akosombo (population 15,000), Sunyani (population 80,000), and Tamale (population 305,000), the capital of the Northern region of Ghana.

"In Ghana, demand for electricity has been increasing at a rate of 10 to 15 percent per annum for the last two decades. Thus an important consideration is to match the growth rate of electricity demand with adequate supply. BPL Global's Power SG solutions have successfully proven in deployments that important savings can be achieved with smart grid solutions that improve efficiency and reliability of energy distribution," said Dieudonne Bakarani, president of BPL Africa, who also stated that BPL Africa is presently finalizing plans for smart grid deployments in a number of other sub Saharan countries.

Smart grid solutions to be deployed in Ghana for VRA include: BPLG's Power SG Network Monitoring and Management, Rapid Fault Location, Demand Management, Non-Technical Loss Management, Substation Automation, Transformer Monitoring and CCTV Security Systems. Broadband Communications solutions include: broadband internet access and VoIP telephony.

The smart grid system is designed to reduce frequency and duration of outages, improve the balance of supply and demand, and improve operational efficiency. Smart grid technology is ready to have a significant impact improving the efficiency and reliability of energy delivery in Ghana.