Georgia Power has started construction on a new 260 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in eastern Georgia's Jefferson County. The project is located near the city of Wadley, positioned beside the city's existing third-party-owned Wadley solar facility and near existing energy transmission infrastructure.

The system represents a company-owned asset that Georgia Power aims to use to strengthen the grid across the state. Kerry Bridges, region executive for Georgia Power, stated that the company's collaboration with the Georgia Public Service Commission and other stakeholders is key to making necessary investments for a reliable and resilient power grid.

Project Specifications and Timeline

The battery system has been designed to quickly dispatch stored energy over a four-hour period. The project is set to be completed sometime in 2027 and is intended to help address the state's spiking demand for electricity while staying cost-effective for Georgia homeowners.

Bridges explained that with the construction of the 260 MW BESS in Jefferson County, the company is able to better serve customers and support Georgia's growth. He noted that as the company expands its energy mix to include more renewable sources, these batteries will play an invaluable role in helping ensure reliability and flexibility, particularly when renewable sources are not available.

Statewide Battery Storage Expansion

This Jefferson County project is part of a broader battery storage initiative across Georgia. Georgia Power reports that its crews are nearing completion of four new BESS facilities across Georgia, totaling 765 MW in four counties. To support the increasing demand for renewable energy, the company is also planning two new state-of-the-art solar systems paired with battery storage for a combined capacity of 350 MW. These projects are designed to maximize high solar irradiance while minimizing land disturbance. The new solar and BESS projects include locations in Laurens and Dougherty County.

Georgia Public Service Commission Approvals

The Georgia Public Service Commission has approved the construction of nine new BESS facilities across seven sites in Georgia, which are expected to add 3 GW of planned energy storage to the state's grid. PSC representatives indicated that the sites were strategically selected based on deployment capabilities, including the opportunity to locate additional resources at existing company plant sites, existing company-owned land, and proximity to substations or current company facilities.

The new BESS facilities approved by the PSC include locations at Plants Bowen, Hammond, McIntosh, Wansley and Yates, as well as stand-alone locations in Hall and McDuffie counties. This represents a significant expansion of battery energy storage infrastructure throughout the state as Georgia Power works to enhance grid reliability and accommodate increasing renewable energy integration.

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