New resources will help company meet the
energy needs of a growing Georgia
ATLANTA, Aug.
29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has identified
locations for 500 MW of new battery energy storage systems (BESS)
authorized by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) earlier
this year as part of the company's 2023 Integrated Resource Plan
(IRP) Update. According to the company's recent filing with
the Georgia PSC, the portfolio of BESS resources proposed by
Georgia Power helps address the resource needs identified in the
2023 IRP Update in a cost-effective and strategic manner.
Each of the proposed resources will consist of 4-hour
duration BESS. Once developed, these projects will serve
as dispatchable capacity resources that will provide customers
with a reliable and economical source of electricity for the winter
of 2026/2027. These resources will add to Georgia Power's diverse
generation portfolio, helping to ensure the company has the mix of
technologies necessary to provide clean, safe, reliable and
affordable electric service for all customers during all hours.
BESS support the reliability and resilience of the electric
system, while also enhancing the value of intermittent renewable
generation like solar. BESS can improve the efficiency of renewable
energy by storing excess energy produced during periods when the
demand for electricity is lower, for use when the demand is higher,
such as on cold winter mornings. Because battery storage can
provide stored energy to the grid over several hours, BESS
resources can also rapidly respond to other system events to
increase the reliability of the electric system.
The new BESS facilities planned and under development
are:
- Robins BESS (Bibb County,
128 MW). This strategic site is co-located with the existing
solar facility adjacent to the Robins Air Force Base and allows
Georgia Power to leverage existing infrastructure, thereby
eliminating the need to construct new transmission generator
step-up (GSU) project-level substations and eliminating potential
expenses and long lead time projects associated with transmission
interconnection and network upgrades.
- Moody BESS (Lowndes County,
49.5 MW). Similar to the Robins BESS project, this strategic
choice is co-located with the existing solar facility adjacent to
the Moody Air Force Base and allows Georgia Power to leverage
existing infrastructure, thereby eliminating the need for
constructing new transmission GSU project-level substations and
eliminating potential expenses and long lead time projects
associated with interconnection and network upgrades. It also
offers expedited deployment capabilities and ensures known
transmission deliverability.
- Hammond BESS (Floyd County,
57.5 MW). The Hammond BESS project is a standalone BESS that
leverages existing infrastructure from the retired coal-fired Plant
Hammond facility. With the repurposing of an existing generation
site and the utilization of already identified transmission
capacity, the Hammond BESS project provides significant benefit to
customers while aiding the company in meeting its capacity
needs.
- McGrau Ford Site Phase II BESS (Cherokee County, 265 MW). Given the
existing site work, land acquisition, and contracting for McGrau
Ford Phase I BESS, Georgia Power will realize efficiencies in
contracting and construction by using the same construction company
and company-owned land. In addition, the preliminary design for
McGrau Ford Phase I BESS provides an opportunity for Georgia Power
to cost effectively expand the project level substation and
generation tie line rather than construct a new project level
substation.
Each BESS project is expected to produce significant benefits
for customers. For example, leveraging existing sites and
transmission infrastructure will reduce deployment time and avoid
additional capital investment otherwise required. In addition,
each BESS project qualifies for customer cost reducing tax
incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. The proposed BESS
resources will also provide "energy arbitrage" benefits, which
optimize energy savings by shifting the energy output from hours
with a relatively low system marginal cost to hours with a
relatively high system marginal cost – ultimately saving customers
money.
In addition to the 500 MW BESS projects from the 2023 IRP
Update, Georgia Power is nearing completion on the 65 MW Mossy
Branch Battery Facility located in Talbot
County, Georgia. Mossy Branch was approved in the 2019 IRP
and will be Georgia Power's first BESS resource. The company is
also developing the 265 MW McGrau Ford Phase I BESS project,
approved in the 2022 IRP, and expects it to enter service by the
end of 2026.
To learn more about how Georgia Power is meeting the needs of
customers through a diverse, balanced energy portfolio,
visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/IRP.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's
premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and
Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7
million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to
delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia
Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes
nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar,
hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering
world-class service to its customers every day and the company is
recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer
satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower [facebook.com]), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower
[twitter.com]) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power
[instagram.com]).
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SOURCE Georgia Power