West Africa Achieves Milestone in Regional Power Integration with Successful 15-Nation Grid Synchronization Trial
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) has successfully completed the first full synchronization of its regional electricity grid, connecting 15 countries into a single interconnected power system. The landmark trial, supported by GE Vernova’s advanced grid orchestration and automation technology, marks a critical step toward establishing a unified electricity market in West Africa.
The synchronized network now includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Enabled by GE Vernova’s GridOS software suite and its grid automation telecommunications infrastructure, the trial demonstrated real-time monitoring, stable coordinated dispatch, and reliable operation across multiple national transmission systems under the oversight of WAPP’s Information and Coordination Centre in Benin.
The successful synchronization is expected to significantly improve power reliability, reduce outages, facilitate greater cross-border electricity trading, and support the integration of renewable energy sources across the region. Permanent full synchronization is targeted for 2026.
Roger Martella, Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at GE Vernova, hailed the achievement as a model of public-private collaboration. Speaking at the B20 Summit in South Africa, Martella emphasized the role of technology and partnerships in delivering affordable and sustainable energy access.
GE Vernova continues to support the broader energy transition through investments in skills development and community programs, including engineering education initiatives in South Africa and the recent launch of the Mendoza Collective Action Summit aimed at expanding electricity access in underserved areas.
The West African trial is seen as a blueprint for regional grid integration efforts worldwide, demonstrating that coordinated, technology-enabled systems can deliver more resilient and inclusive power infrastructure.