Georgia Power breaks ground on new BESS system

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="Georgia Power's new BESS facility groundbreaking ceremony" class="wp-image-58718" height="467" src="https://solarbuildermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Georgia-Power-Groundbreaking-resized-to-1200x800-1-700x467.jpeg" width="700" /></figure>

<p><a href="https://www.georgiapower.com/">Georgia Power</a> has started construction on a new 260 MW <a href="https://solarbuildermag.com/energy-storage/u-s-energy-storage-installations-hits-record-numbers-in-2025/">battery energy storage system (BESS) project</a> in eastern Georgia&#8217;s Jefferson County.</p>

<p>Located near the city of Wadley, the project will be beside the city&#8217;s existing third-party owned Wadley solar facility, as well as near existing energy transmission infrastructure. The system is a company-owned asset which Georgia Power aims to use in order to strengthen the grid across the Peach State, officials say.</p>

<p>&#8220;At Georgia Power, our collaboration with the Georgia (Public Service Commission) and other stakeholders is key to making necessary investments for a reliable and resilient power grid,&#8221; says Kerry Bridges, region executive for Georgia Power. &#8220;With the construction of the 260 MW BESS in Jefferson County, we are able to better serve our customers today and support Georgia&#8217;s growth.</p>

<p>&#8220;As we expand our energy mix to include more renewable sources, these batteries will play an invaluable role in helping ensure reliability and flexibility, particularly when renewable sources are not available.&#8221;</p>

<p>The battery has been designed to &#8220;quickly dispatch stored energy over a four-hour period.&#8221; The project will help to address the state&#8217;s spiking demand for electricity while staying cost-effective for Georgia homeowners, and is set to be completed sometime in 2027.</p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beefing-up-bess-across-georgia">Beefing up BESS across Georgia</h3>

<p>This project is far from the only battery-focused site cropping up around the state. Georgia Power says its crews are nearing completion of four new BESS facilities across Georgia, totaling 765 MW in four counties.</p>

<p>&#8220;To support the increasing demand for renewable energy, the company is also planning two new state-of-the-art solar systems paired with battery storage for a combined capacity of 350 MW,&#8221; officials add. &#8220;These projects are designed to maximize high solar irradiance, while minimizing land disturbance. New solar + BESS projects include locations in Laurens and Dougherty County.&#8221;</p>

<p>The momentum of BESS systems is palpable across the solar industry, and the <a href="https://psc.ga.gov/">Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC)</a> has taken notice. PSC representatives say they have approved the construction of nine new BESS facilities across seven sites in Georgia, which are expected to add 3 GW of planned energy storage to the state&#8217;s grid.</p>

<p>&#8220;The sites were strategically selected based on deployment capabilities, including the opportunity to locate additional resources at existing company plant sites, existing company-owned land, and proximity to substations or current company facilities,&#8221; the PSC says. &#8220;New BESS facilities include locations at Plants Bowen, Hammond, McIntosh, Wansley and Yates and stand-alone locations in Hall and McDuffie counties.&#8221;</p>
<p>-- Solar Builder magazine</p>