Power utility Georgia Power has been given the green light to charge ahead with plans to own and operate 80MW of battery energy storage in the southeast US state.
Power regulator Georgia Public Service Commission waved through the company’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan— which includes growing its renewables generation mix by 72% by adding 2.2GW of solar, wind or biomass generation by 2024— the utility confirmed on 16 July.
The company aims to deploy, integrate and operate storage to explore ways of maximising the value of storage while growing its renewable capacity by 22%. However, Georgia Power did not give details about the type of battery technology that might be deployed.
The commission’s long-term strategy also calls for pilot programs to re-purpose used batteries to enable fast-charging of electric vehicles.
The move will substantially increase the state’s electrochemical storage capacity, which is made up on a 1MW lithium-ion system, and a de-commissioned 2MW lead-acid system, according to the Department of Energy storage tracker.
The vast majority of Georgia’s storage capacity comes from its 2.2GW pumped hydro infrastructure, according to the DoE storage tracker.
Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO of the U.S. Energy Storage Association, said: “We commend the Georgia Public Service Commission for its approval this week of an ambitious, long-term energy plan that includes includes 80MW of battery storage for the state.
“With this decision, Georgia takes a lead role among southeastern states on energy storage and will more affordably and reliably address its energy needs through in-state renewable resources. States are clearly taking action: Georgia’s regulators and utilities, like those in states as diverse as Arizona, Utah, and Indiana, are bringing much-needed storage onto the grid to better meet reliability and resilience needs and diversify their energy supply.
“This is all the more reason the federal government should step up its game: Congress can help states accelerate the deployment of cost-effective storage by passing the bipartisan, bicameral Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act (S. 1142 / H.R. 2096).”
