The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has signed off on Georgia Power’s plans to build 500 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage across four locations, voting unanimously to certify the utility’s Application for Certification on Tuesday. The proposal was approved without discussion, according to a Georgia political beat blog.
In August, Georgia Power Company submitted its 2023 Integrated Resource Plan Update (2023 IRP Update) to the Georgia Public Service Commission, which included the application to build half a gigawatt of battery energy storage systems (BESS). A lot of important information has been entirely redacted from public disclosure- deemed “trade secrets”- but here’s what we do know about the impending projects:
Robins BESS: A 128 MW, 4-hour duration BESS in Warner Robins, Georgia on an existing Air Force base site. The engineering, procurement, and construction company (EPC) is Burns and McDonnell. It will utilize lithium iron phosphate Tesla Megapack 2 XL batteries, which will be charged via electricity from the grid. It’s expected to be online in 2026.
Moody BESS: A 49.5 MW, 4-hour duration BESS in Valdosta, Georgia on an existing Air Force base site. The EPC is Crowder. It will utilize lithium iron phosphate Tesla Megapack 2 XL batteries, which will be paired with an existing solar project at the base. It’s expected to be online in 2026.
Hammond BESS: A 57.5 MW, 4-hour duration in Rome, Georgia on the site of Plant Hammond, an existing coal-fired power station that has been decommissioned. The EPC is Crowder. It will utilize lithium iron phosphate Tesla Megapack 2 XL batteries, which will be positioned alongside “existing infrastructure.” It’s expected to be online in 2026.
McGrau Ford Phase II: A 265 MW, 4-hour duration in Ball Ground, Georgia on a site in Cherokee County that already has a 265 MW BESS being built. Burns and McDonnell is the EPC. It also utilizes lithium iron phosphate Tesla Megapack 2 XL batteries, which will be charged by the grid. Phase two of this project is expected to be online in 2026.
An agreement between Georgia Power and the PSC’s Public Interest Advocacy Staff will require the utility to submit quarterly reports while the BESS are under construction, updating spending and the construction schedule.
What’s in store for Georgia Power?
In April, Georgia Power received permission from the Public Service Commission to forgo the typical bidding process and get right to constructing energy storage to support limiting the use of fossil fuels to mitigate peaks. In that filing, Georgia Power signaled its intention to solicit bids for more storage- another 500 MW- in the near future.
In February 2024, Georgia Power installed its first grid-connected BESS, the Mossy Branch Energy Facility, a 65 MW BESS on 2.5 acres of rural countryside in Talbot County, north of Columbus. The company marked commercial operations of the facility last month. It was approved by the PSC as part of Georgia Power’s 2019 IRP.
“We know our customers depend on us to make the investments in our state’s power grid needed to deliver reliable energy to their homes and businesses around the clock,” said Kim Greene, chairman, president, and CEO of Georgia Power at the Mossy Branch site in November. “Battery energy storage is an example of a new technology that will make our grid more reliable and resilient every day, and especially during extreme weather events. The Mossy Branch facility is an incredibly valuable addition to our grid and commercial operation of this site is a significant milestone in our continued work with the Georgia PSC to evolve and enhance Georgia’s power grid.”
Wärtsilä provided the engineering, procurement, and construction services for the Mossy Branch facility. The project utilizes the GEMS Digital Energy Platform, Wärtsilä’s energy management system.
As mentioned above, Georgia Power is currently developing the first phase of the 265 MW McGrau Ford BESS project in Cherokee County. This project was approved in the 2022 IRP, and Georgia Power expects the first phase to enter service by the end of 2026.z
Originally published in Renewable Energy World.
