Georgia Power Gets Approval for 2260 MW RE Projects

Georgia Power 2019 IRP includes energy storage projects, 2,260 MW more renewable generation by 2024, and approval of its environmental compliance strategy

Georgia Power 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which was unanimously approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), includes energy storage projects, 72 percent (2,260 MW) more renewable (solar, wind and biomass) generation by 2024, and approval of the company’s environmental compliance strategy.

“Working with the Georgia PSC, we are positioning Georgia as a leader in the Southeast in battery energy storage, which is critical to growing and maximising the value of renewable energy for customers as we increase our renewable generation by 72 percent by 2024,” said Allen Reaves, Georgia Power’s senior vice president and senior production officer. “Through the IRP process, Georgia Power will continue to invest in a diverse energy portfolio including the development of renewable resources in a way that benefits all customers to deliver clean, safe, reliable energy at rates that are well below the national average.”

Under the approved IRP, Georgia Power will:

Own and operate 80 MW of battery energy storage systems, which will help position Georgia as a leader in storage in the Southeast. Battery energy storage systems are critical to growing and maximising the value of renewable energy and this will provide the company the opportunity to demonstrate the deployment, integration and operation of storage to gain valuable insight into how to maximise the value of storage for customers.

Add 2,260 MW of new renewable (solar, wind or biomass) generation to the company’s energy mix, which is already one of the largest voluntary renewable portfolios in the country. With this addition, Georgia Power will continue as a leader in solar energy production and grow its renewable generation by more than 72 percent to 5,390 MW* by 2024 and increase the company’s total renewable capacity to 22 percent of its already diverse portfolio.

Continue making capital investments to ensure high reliability of the system and help ensure the company meets all state and federal environmental compliance regulations. Georgia Power will move forward with five hydro investment projects including projects at Terrora, Tugalo, Bartletts Ferry, Nacoochee and Oliver generating facilities.

Retire five coal-fired units, four at Plant Hammond near Rome, Georgia, and one at Plant McIntosh near Rincon, Georgia, reducing the company’s coal-fired generation capacity to approximately half of what it was in 2005. The company also will not renew its operating licenses for the Estatoah, Langdale and Riverview hydro dams.