Georgia Power starts construction on 200-MW battery storage project

• Georgia Power began building a 200-MW battery system, adding multi-hour flexibility to support renewables and peak demand across the state.

Georgia Power has kicked off construction of a 200-MW battery energy storage system (BESS), advancing a flagship project in the utility’s broader plan to integrate more solar while safeguarding evening reliability. The multi-hour installation will charge when prices are low—often midday as solar output surges—and discharge into late-day peaks, while providing fast frequency response and voltage support.

Technically, expect containerized lithium-ion blocks with redundant thermal management, gas detection, and compartmentalized fire suppression, tied to grid-forming inverters capable of synthetic inertia and ride-through during disturbances. A supervisory controls layer will co-optimize energy arbitrage with ancillary services and maintain state of charge to ensure the system is ready for high-value events. Siting near a strong substation enables staged commissioning, so portions of the plant can enter service while build-out continues.

For customers, the benefits are straightforward: fewer price spikes, reduced reliance on peaker plants, and a more resilient grid during heatwaves and storms. For the state, large batteries make better use of every installed megawatt of solar—cutting curtailment on bright days and shifting energy into the evening when air-conditioning and industrial loads peak.

Construction will follow the now-standard community playbook: traffic management, acoustic treatments, landscaping to soften views, and emergency coordination with local fire services. Post-COD, rigorous O&M—thermal scanning, cell balancing, and firmware updates—will underpin availability and safety over the asset’s life.

As the Southeast adds utility-scale renewables and electrification gathers pace, strategically placed batteries are becoming essential infrastructure. Georgia Power’s 200-MW project is a cornerstone in that shift: a compact, dispatchable resource that stabilizes the system in seconds and supports clean energy around the clock.