Georgia Power's first battery energy storage system reaches commercial operation
Rhea-AI Summary
Georgia Power has commenced commercial operation of its first grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Mossy Branch Battery Facility. The facility features 65 megawatts of battery storage capacity deployable over four hours, enhancing grid resilience in Georgia. The project, approved in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, can store excess energy during low-demand periods for use during high-demand times. Additionally, Georgia Power is developing the 265 MW McGrau Ford Phase I BESS project in Cherokee County, expected to be operational by 2026, and plans to procure 1,000 MW of new battery storage through competitive bidding.
Positive
- Successfully launched first 65 MW battery storage facility enhancing grid reliability
- Secured approval for 265 MW McGrau Ford Phase I BESS project
- Plans to add 1,000 MW of new battery storage capacity
- Announced locations for 500 MW of new company-owned BESS projects
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – SO
On the day this news was published, SO gained 1.97%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
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65 MW Mossy Branch Battery Facility adds resiliency to
The Mossy Branch facility was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission as part of Georgia Power's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and is a standalone storage unit that connects with and charges directly from the electric grid. BESS projects like Mossy Branch support the overall reliability and resilience of the electric system, while also enhancing the value of intermittent renewable generation resources such as solar. Storage systems 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 for hours on demand, BESS resources enhance the overall reliability of the electric system.
"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 on Thursday. "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 such as Hurricane Helene or Winter Storm Elliott. 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 Power worked with industry leader Wärtsilä to provide the engineering, procurement and construction services for the Mossy Branch facility. The project utilizes the GEMS Digital Energy Platform, Wärtsilä's energy management system, to manage the facility and provide secure operations, and is built with Wärtsilä's Quantum, a fully integrated, modular, and compact energy storage system.
New Battery Energy Storage Projects Underway Across Georgia
Georgia Power continues to work with the Georgia PSC to procure and develop BESS projects across
An additional 1,000 MW of new battery energy storage is expected to be procured in the coming years through competitive bidding processes and, in August, Georgia Power also announced the locations of 500 MW of new BESS projects that will be owned by the company. These new company-owned projects include 128 MW located adjacent to Robins Air Force Base (
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
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SOURCE Georgia Power