Georgia commissions 128 MW battery storage facility to meet peak demand

A 128 MW battery storage facility in Georgia has begun commercial operations, capable of delivering up to four hours of stored electricity to the grid when demand rises. Georgia Power, the largest power subsidiary of Southern Company, serves 2.8 million customers across the state. The Robins Battery Facility, located near Warner Robins, Georgia, is paired with the adjacent Robins Solar Facility. This configuration allows power stored by the solar plant during periods of lower demand to be dispatched when demand climbs, aiming to give the grid more flexibility as electricity needs grow.

The facility can store energy when demand is low and discharge it during peak periods such as cold winter mornings or other times of high electricity use.

How the storage facility operates

Georgia Power says the facility is part of a statewide battery storage expansion plan, with several projects already approved or in development. The solar-plus-storage model helps overcome one of the main limitations of renewable energy. Solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining, but demand can remain elevated after sunset or spike at other times of day. Battery systems can bridge that gap by shifting power between different hours of the day. At Robins, the batteries can deliver up to four hours of electricity once charged.

Future storage plans

Rick Anderson, senior vice president and senior production officer at Georgia Power, said: "Seeing the Robins Battery Facility begin commercial operations is an important milestone for Georgia Power and our state's energy future. By pairing battery storage with solar generation, we are building a more flexible and resilient grid that can meet customer needs during peak demand while supporting Georgia's continued growth." The facility is also near Robins Air Force Base, adding a storage asset to an area with critical infrastructure.

According to Georgia Power, the project was built by engineering and construction contractor Burns & McDonnell and was delivered on schedule.

Robins is one of four battery storage projects approved in Georgia Power's 2023 Integrated Resource Plan update. Completed projects in Cherokee and Lowndes counties bring the company's operating battery capacity to 579.5 MW, while a 57.5 MW facility in Floyd County is nearing completion. The state Public Service Commission has also approved nine additional battery storage facilities at eight sites. These projects are expected to add more than 3,000 MW of storage capacity. Planned facilities include installations associated with the Bowen, Hammond, McIntosh, Wansley and Yates power plants, as well as standalone projects in Hall and McDuffie counties.

Georgia Power has also received approval for two solar-plus-battery storage projects in Laurens and Mitchell counties. These projects will provide 350 MW of generation capacity.

For the grid, the growing storage fleet offers another way to manage fluctuations between electricity generation and consumption, without requiring renewable power to be used immediately as it is produced.