Georgia Power has received the first of three new simple cycle gas combustion turbines at Plant Yates in Coweta County. The turbine, produced by Mitsubishi Power at its Savannah Machinery Works facility, was transported to the plant using rail and truck. It weighs nearly 350 tons and measures 50 feet long by 18 feet wide.
The new units are Mitsubishi Power M501JAC combustion turbines, marking the first addition of natural gas turbines to Georgia Power’s fleet in a decade. Once all three are operational, they will add a total of 1,300 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity for customers.
Plant Yates began commercial operation in 1950 and has played a significant role in Georgia’s energy production. Five of its original seven coal-fired units were decommissioned in 2014, with the remaining two converted to natural gas. The current expansion is expected to create about 600 construction jobs and add 15 permanent positions when completed, increasing the plant’s workforce to 75 full-time employees.
Approval for these new units came through the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) as part of the company’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update. The efficient planning process for natural gas generation means that Georgia Power expects all units online by late 2027 to address rising energy demand in Georgia.
“At Georgia Power, we know our customers depend on us for reliable and affordable energy that is available around the clock whenever they need it at their homes or businesses,” said Rick Anderson, senior vice president and senior production officer for Georgia Power. “We continue to work with the Georgia PSC to enhance and expand our diverse generation mix to meet the needs of customers not only today, but decades into the future. The new natural gas units at Plant Yates will be a great addition to our fleet, using existing property and infrastructure to deliver the best overall value for customers and providing exciting new investment at a plant that has been an economic driver in Coweta County for decades.”
The M501JAC turbines offer higher output and efficiency than previous models. Their air-cooled design allows faster start-up times—about thirty minutes—and operational flexibility without steam cooling. They can also run on oil if needed, providing reliability benefits through on-site storage capability. Future modifications could enable them to use hydrogen blends as fuel; this aligns with industry efforts toward reducing carbon emissions.
Georgia Power recently partnered with Mitsubishi Power on a project involving up to fifty percent hydrogen blending at Plant McDonough-Atkinson.
“The delivery of our M501JAC advanced-class gas turbines to Plant Yates marks an important step in supporting Georgia’s growing demand for reliable, efficient energy generation,” said Cheryl Boddiford, senior vice president of North American Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Mitsubishi Power. “Assembled at our Savannah Machinery Works facility, these units not only reflect our long-standing partnership with Georgia Power, but also symbolize Mitsubishi Power’s commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing and skilled workforce development. We’re proud to help deliver the flexible, high-performance turbine technology that will keep Georgia powered now and in the years ahead.”
Natural gas currently accounts for about forty percent of annual energy generation from Georgia Power facilities statewide. The company works with state regulators through its IRP process to ensure ongoing reliability as population growth drives increased electricity demand across Georgia.
Other investments include upgrades at Plant McIntosh near Savannah approved under the company’s upcoming IRP update; these improvements will increase capacity by another 268 MW from existing equipment (source).
Additionally, natural gas features prominently in a recent all-source request filed with regulators seeking approval for five combined cycle units totaling over 3,600 MW at Plants Bowen, McIntosh, and Wansley (source). These projects aim to maintain grid stability as well as support future economic development throughout the state.
For more information about how Georgia Power manages its energy portfolio or details about its IRP process visit www.GeorgiaPower.com.
