Photo Credit: Georgia Power
Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power announced on Monday, the successful completion of a second trial blending hydrogen and natural gas fuels at Plant McDonough-Atkinson in Smyrna. This demonstration project marks a significant advancement in sustainable energy generation, validating a 50% hydrogen fuel blend, the largest test of its kind globally to date.
The groundbreaking 50% hydrogen blend resulted in a remarkable 22% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to using 100% natural gas. This follows a successful initial test in 2022, which utilized a 20% hydrogen blend. “Natural gas serves a critical role in our generation mix, providing flexibility, baseload power and quick response to customer demand,” said Rick Anderson, Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer for Georgia Power. He further emphasized that natural gas “will continue to be an important fuel as we plan to meet the energy needs of a growing Georgia through a diverse portfolio of generation resources.” Georgia Power’s commitment to exploring cleaner energy solutions is further highlighted in their 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), currently under review by the state Public Service Commission (PSC). The plan includes the construction of three new Mitsubishi Power gas turbines at Plant Yates in Coweta County, specifically designed to utilize hydrogen fuel.
Mark Bissonnette, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Power Generation at Mitsubishi Power Americas, lauded the partnership, stating, “It has been a privilege to partner with Georgia Power on this landmark project. This is a significant milestone for both companies to help Georgia Power reduce carbon emissions across its generation fleet.” While the potential of hydrogen blending is being celebrated, the IRP’s continued reliance on natural gas and coal remains a point of contention with environmental groups.
The Georgia PSC is scheduled to vote on the proposed IRP on July 15th.
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