Georgia Power has kicked off construction on a total of 765 megawatts (MW) of new battery energy storage systems (BESS) at several sites statewide, marking a major step in the company’s strategy to support rapid electrical load growth driven by data centers and electrification.

The projects are part of Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), filed with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), which anticipates about 8,200 MW of additional electric demand by 2030. That’s a 2,200 MW increase from the projections in the company’s 2023 IRP update.

The battery systems, located in Bibb, Lowndes, Floyd, and Cherokee counties, are designed to bolster grid reliability, provide fast-response capacity for customers, and enhance the integration of renewable resources such as solar.

“As we expand our diverse energy mix to include more renewable energy, which requires careful advance planning and flexibility to accommodate times when that source is not available, these batteries will be an invaluable part of the electric system,” said Rick Anderson, senior vice president and senior production officer for Georgia Power.

Project Details

The projects underway include:

• Robins BESS (Bibb County, 128 MW): Situated next to the Robins Air Force Base solar facility, this site takes advantage of existing infrastructure, avoiding the need for new transmission substations and costly upgrades. Burns & McDonnell is leading engineering and construction, with commercial operation expected by June 2026.
• Moody BESS (Lowndes County, 49.5 MW): Co-located with a solar facility adjacent to Moody Air Force Base, this project also leverages existing infrastructure, ensuring quicker deployment and avoiding new substation construction. Crowder Industrial Construction is handling the build, targeting a May 2026 operation date.
• Hammond BESS (Floyd County, 57.5 MW): This standalone battery project reuses infrastructure from the decommissioned Plant Hammond coal facility, repurposing the site and existing transmission capacity to meet demand. Crowder Industrial Construction is leading the project, with commercial operation slated for November 2026.
• McGrau Ford Phase I & II BESS (Cherokee County, 530 MW): Leveraging prior land acquisition and site work, Georgia Power is using the same contractor and company-owned land to achieve construction efficiencies. Burns & McDonnell is overseeing engineering and construction, with Phase I and II expected online in October and September 2026, respectively.

Building on Past Success

The new projects build on Georgia Power’s first grid-connected battery facility, the Mossy Branch Energy Facility, a 65 MW installation in Talbot County that came online in February 2024 under the company’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 commissioning. “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.”

Georgia Power continues collaborating with the Georgia PSC to expand energy storage, with an additional 1,000 MW planned through competitive procurement in coming years. A 13 MW demonstration project is also underway at Fort Stewart Army Installation near Savannah. Future requests for proposals from the company’s 2025 and 2022 IRPs are expected to include more battery storage resources.

Broader Energy Investments

In addition to storage, the 2025 IRP outlines ongoing investments in Georgia’s energy infrastructure:

• Nuclear Expansion: Following the completion of Vogtle Units 3 & 4, now the largest clean energy generator in the U.S., Georgia Power is seeking additional investments in Hatch Units 1 & 2 and Vogtle Units 1 & 2 to add 112 MW of output.
• Natural Gas and Coal Plant Upgrades: Upgrades at Plant McIntosh would bring 268 MW of new capacity, while selected coal and natural gas units at Plants Bowen and Scherer are set to continue operating at least through 2034 with modernization and compliance improvements.
• Hydro Modernization: Georgia Power plans upgrades at nine hydroelectric plants, aiming to extend their operational life by 40 years while boosting efficiency and preserving carbon-free generation.

Through these combined efforts, Georgia Power is reinforcing its electric grid and preparing for the state’s growing energy needs with a mix of storage, renewables, nuclear, and traditional generation.

Originally reported by Paul Gerke in Power Engineering Factor This.