Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power have announced the delivery of the first of three new simple cycle gas combustion turbines to Plant Yates in Coweta County, Georgia. The turbine, which was assembled at Mitsubishi Power’s Savannah Machinery Works facility, weighs nearly 350 tons and measures 50 feet long by 18 feet wide. This marks the first addition of new natural gas turbines to Georgia Power’s fleet in a decade. Once all units are operational, they will provide a combined generation capacity of 1,300 megawatts for customers.
Plant Yates has been a key part of Georgia Power’s generation system since it began commercial operation in 1950. The plant originally supported the post-World War II economic expansion. In 2014, five coal-fired units were retired while two remaining units were converted to natural gas. The current expansion with three new turbines is expected to create about 600 construction jobs and add 15 permanent positions, increasing the plant’s workforce to 75 full-time employees.
The new turbines are Mitsubishi Power M501JAC models and are designed for greater efficiency and output compared to earlier designs. They use air-cooling technology instead of steam cooling, allowing faster start-up times and increased operational flexibility. The units can also run on oil if natural gas is unavailable, with on-site storage available for backup fuel supply. Future modifications could enable these turbines to operate using hydrogen blends as technology advances toward lower carbon emissions.
The project was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) as part of the company’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
“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.”
Cheryl Boddiford, senior vice president of North American Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management at Mitsubishi Power said: “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. 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 40 percent of Georgia Power’s annual electricity production. The company works closely with state regulators through its IRP process to ensure energy supply keeps pace with rapid growth across Georgia.
Georgia Power has also received approval from regulators for upgrades at other plants including Plant McIntosh near Savannah as part of its 2025 IRP filing; these upgrades will add another 268 megawatts of capacity using both combined cycle and simple cycle technologies from existing infrastructure (https://www.georgiapower.com/company/news-center/2024-articles/georgia-power-receives-approval-for-additional-generation-to-meet-growing-energy-demand.html).
Additionally, a recent request filed with regulators seeks certification for five new combined cycle units totaling nearly 3,700 megawatts that would be placed strategically across Plants Bowen, McIntosh, and Wansley (https://psc.ga.gov/search/facts-document/?documentId=191486). These efforts aim to maintain grid stability while supporting economic growth throughout Georgia.
More information about how Georgia Power manages its energy portfolio can be found at www.GeorgiaPower.com.