March 31, 2026
Georgia power has begun construction on a new 260 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Jefferson County, eastern Georgia.
Located near the town of Wadley, the project will be adjacent to the town’s existing third-party Wadley solar facility, as well as near existing energy transmission infrastructure. The system is owned by the company and Georgia Power plans to use it to boost its network in the Peach State, officials say.
“At Georgia Power, our partnership with Georgia (Public Service Commission) and other stakeholders is critical to making the necessary investments for a reliable and resilient electric grid,” said Kerry Bridges, regional director of Georgia Power. “With the construction of the 260 MW BESS in Jefferson County, we can better serve our customers today and support Georgia’s growth.
“As we expand our energy mix to include more renewable sources, these batteries will play an invaluable role in helping ensure reliability and flexibility, especially when renewable sources are unavailable.”
The battery is designed to “transmit stored energy quickly over a four-hour period.” The project will help address the state’s rising electricity demand while remaining cost-effective for Georgia homeowners, and will be completed sometime in 2027.
Strengthen BESS throughout Georgia
This project is far from the only battery-focused site popping up in the state. Georgia Power says its crews are nearing completion of four new BESS facilities in Georgia, totaling 765 MW in four counties.
“To support the increasing demand for renewable energy, the company is also planning two new state-of-the-art solar power systems paired with battery storage for a combined capacity of 350 MW,” officials added. “These projects are designed to maximize high solar irradiance while minimizing land disturbance. New solar + BESS projects include locations in Laurens and Dougherty County.”
The momentum of BESS systems is palpable in the solar energy sector Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has taken notice. PSC representatives say they have approved the construction of nine new BESS facilities at seven locations in Georgia, which are expected to add 3 GW of planned energy storage to the state’s grid.
“The sites were strategically selected based on deployment capabilities, including the ability to locate additional resources at existing company plant sites, on existing company-owned land and proximity to substations or current company facilities,” the PSC said. “New BESS facilities include sites in Plants Bowen, Hammond, McIntosh, Wansley and Yates and standalone sites in Hall and McDuffie counties.”
Tags: batteries, BESS, energy storage, Georgia Power, projects, utility scale
