Georgia Power has received the turbine and generator for Unit 9 at Plant Yates in Coweta County, Georgia. The components include a Mitsubishi Power M501JAC simple-cycle gas combustion turbine and a Mitsubishi Electric Power VP-X Series turbine generator. These were assembled at Mitsubishi Power’s Savannah Machinery Works facility and transported to the site by rail and truck.
The company is constructing three new combustion turbines (CTs) at Plant Yates, which were approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) as part of the 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update. The new units are expected to be operational by the end of 2027 to address increasing energy demand in Georgia. Delivery of components for Unit 8 occurred in August, while those for Unit 10 are scheduled for early 2026. Once completed, these three units will add 1,300 megawatts of generation capacity.
The advanced-class turbines offer higher output and efficiency compared to previous models. Each turbine weighs nearly 350 tons and measures about 50 feet long and 18 feet wide. The air-cooled design eliminates the need for steam cooling, enabling faster start-up times of approximately 30 minutes and lower turn down rates. In case natural gas becomes unavailable, the turbines can operate on oil due to on-site storage facilities, enhancing system reliability. With future modifications, they could also use hydrogen blends as fuel—a technology Georgia Power is exploring through its partnership with Mitsubishi Power on a hydrogen-blending project at Plant McDonough-Atkinson.
Each Mitsubishi Electric Power VP-X generator is rated at 583 megavolt-amperes (MVA) and achieves an efficiency rate of 99%. Each unit weighs around 779,782 pounds.
Plant Yates began commercial operation in 1950 and was originally built to support post-World War II economic growth in Georgia. In recent years, five coal-fired units were decommissioned or converted to natural gas generation. The current expansion will create about 600 construction jobs and add 15 permanent positions once finished, bringing total plant employment to approximately 75 full-time workers.
Natural gas currently accounts for about 40% of Georgia Power’s annual energy generation mix. The company continues working with the PSC through the IRP process to ensure reliable service as demand grows across the state.
Georgia Power is also investing in upgrades at other facilities. At Plant McIntosh near Savannah, both combined-cycle and simple-cycle upgrades have been approved as part of the upcoming IRP update, adding another 268 megawatts of capacity from existing infrastructure.
Additionally, natural gas features prominently in an ongoing all-source request for proposals (RFP) certification filing with the PSC. This includes plans for five new combined cycle units totaling nearly 3,700 MW across several sites—Plants Bowen, McIntosh, and Wansley—to further strengthen grid stability and meet future energy needs.
For more information about Mitsubishi Power generation technology, visit the Mitsubishi Power Americas website.
To learn more about Georgia Power’s energy portfolio or IRP process, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com.
