Georgia Power Abandoning Coal

It once had the dubious distinction of co-operating the largest single point of carbon emissions in the USA, but Georgia Power now wants out of coal power altogether.

Georgia Power is a gentailer (electricity generator and retailer) and subsidiary of Southern Company, which is one of the USA’s largest generators of electricity. As at the end of 2020, Georgia Power had 14.4 GW of generation capacity and served 2,635,402 customers. At that point, the company had 4.8GW of coal power capacity.

The utility announced early this week that as coal-fired electricity generation is continuing to be less economically viable, it wants to shutter most of the coal units it controls by 2028, with the exception of two that will cease operations in 2035.

The amount of coal power to be retired by 2028 adds up to more than 3,500 megawatts according to the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) recently filed with a state regulator.

While the transition will mean certifying an additional 2,356 megawatts of gas power, the utility will also boost its renewable energy capacity.

Georgia Power already has renewables in its stable – mainly hydro, but also more than a dozen solar farms. Renewable capacity would be lifted with the addition of 6,000 MW capacity by 2035, bringing the total in its portfolio to 11,500 MW by that year. The company is also looking to own and operate 1,000 MW of energy storage by 2030, which includes the 265-MW McGrau Ford Battery Facility.

“At Georgia Power, we know that to continue to meet the changing needs of our customers we must prepare now to build the electric system and energy infrastructure of the future,” said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of the company.

Before Georgia Power can proceed with its plan, it will need the blessing of the Georgia Public Service Commission.

Georgia Power And Plant Scherer

The company is among the multiple owners and operators of Robert W. Scherer Power Plant – aka “Plant Scherer” – in Monroe County, which began commercial operation in 1982. This is a massive emissions-spewing monster that at its peak consisted of 4 operational units with a collective rated capacity of 3.78GW. Australia’s largest operating coal burner is Eraring in New South Wales, with a maximum capacity of 2.88GW.

In the early 2000’s, Plant Scherer was reportedly the largest single point of carbon emissions in the USA and ranked 20th in the world in terms of power plant carbon dioxide emissions. According to the US EPA, Plant Scherer was responsible for 6,862,268 tonnes of CO2e in 2020.

Georgia Power announced in November last year the unit it owns, Unit 3, would close by 2025.

The USA’s largest electricity gentailer, Florida Power & Light (FPL), closed down its last coal fired power stations in Florida last year. FPL is also a co-owner in Scherer, and shuttered Unit 4 on January 1 this year. As far as I’m aware, that marked the end of coal power for FPL.

On a related note, FPL is also big on renewables and in December unveiled what the gentailer claimed was world’s largest operational battery system charged with solar energy.

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/georgia-power-coal-mb2340/