Georgia Power has received the turbine and generator for the new Unit 9 at Plant Yates in Coweta County, Georgia. The delivery marks a significant step in the construction of three new natural gas combustion turbines (CTs) at the site, which is located about an hour southwest of Atlanta.
The new components include a Mitsubishi Power M501JAC simple-cycle gas combustion turbine and a Mitsubishi Electric Power VP-X Series turbine generator. Both were assembled at Mitsubishi Power’s Savannah Machinery Works facility and transported to Plant Yates by rail and truck.
The three CTs were approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) as part of the company’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update. According to Georgia Power, these units are expected to be operational by the end of 2027 to address growing energy demand in Georgia. The components for Unit 8 arrived in August, while those for Unit 10 are scheduled for early 2026. Once completed, all three units will add 1,300 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity.
Each advanced-class gas turbine weighs nearly 350 tons and measures about 50 feet long and 18 feet wide. The air-cooled design eliminates steam cooling requirements, allowing for faster start-up times—approximately 30 minutes—and improved operational flexibility. In addition to running on natural gas, the turbines can operate on oil if necessary, with on-site storage available to support system reliability. With future modifications, they could also use hydrogen blends as fuel. “Blending technology continues to advance as an option across the industry in the pursuit of reduced carbon emissions, and Georgia Power is leading the way in this innovative research, recently partnering with Mitsubishi Power for a 50% hydrogen-blending project at Plant McDonough-Atkinson,” according to Georgia Power.
The accompanying generators are highly efficient hydrogen-cooled units rated at 583 megavolt-amperes (MVA), achieving an efficiency rate of 99%. Each generator weighs approximately 779,782 pounds.
Plant Yates has played a key role in electricity generation since it began commercial operation in 1950. It was originally built to support post-World War II economic growth in Georgia. In recent years, five coal-fired units were decommissioned and two others converted to natural gas. The expansion project is expected to create around 600 jobs during construction and add another 15 permanent positions once complete.
Natural gas accounts for about 40% of Georgia Power’s annual energy production. The company continues its collaboration with the PSC through its IRP process to ensure reliable service as demand grows statewide.
Georgia Power is also upgrading other plants such as Plant McIntosh near Savannah under its approved plans for combined-cycle and simple-cycle enhancements that will increase capacity by an additional 268 MW using existing infrastructure.
Further proposals before the PSC include certification requests for five new combined cycle units totaling nearly 3,700 MW at Plants Bowen, McIntosh, and Wansley across Georgia to support grid stability and economic growth.
For more information on Mitsubishi Power generation technology visit the Mitsubishi Power Americas website.
To learn more about Georgia Power’s diverse energy portfolio or its IRP process visit www.GeorgiaPower.com.
