Georgia Power joins effort to establish six-state Southeast Hydrogen Hub

Rhea-AI Summary

Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is leading a coalition of Southeast utility companies to create a hydrogen hub aimed at reducing carbon emissions. This initiative aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy's $8 billion funding for regional hydrogen hubs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. With hydrogen's potential for economic development and decarbonization, Georgia Power has successfully demonstrated a hydrogen-natural gas fuel blend, achieving a 7% reduction in emissions. Since 2007, the company has cut its carbon emissions by over 60%.

Positive

• Formation of a coalition to establish a hydrogen hub for economic development and decarbonization.
• Access to $8 billion in federal funding for regional hydrogen hubs.
• Successful demonstration of 20% hydrogen fuel blending, reducing emissions by 7%.
• Over 60% reduction in carbon emissions since 2007.

Negative

• None.

Hydrogen holds new opportunity to reduce carbon emissions as company builds future of energy for Georgia

ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power is furthering its commitment to build the energy grid of the future and reduce carbon emissions across its generation fleet through a newly formed coalition of major utility companies across the Southeast, announced today, working to secure federal financial support for a Southeast Hydrogen Hub. The coalition, including Georgia Power's parent Southern Company, will respond to the recently announced funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy, which includes $8 billion for regional hydrogen hubs and is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

A hydrogen hub in the Southeastern U.S. is expected to bring robust economic development benefits to the region, and hydrogen is attractive as an energy resource because it has immediate potential to accelerate decarbonization in the Southeast and across all sectors of the U.S. economy – including transportation, which generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Read more about today's announcement here.

"The Southeast continues to be one of the most innovative and forward-looking parts of the country when it comes to advancing new energy technologies that help decarbonize the grid, while also growing the economy and bringing jobs, and today's announcement reinforces our region's leadership in this area," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "As we continue to make smart investments that help us better deliver clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy for our customers, we see incredible potential in the future use of hydrogen as part of our diverse energy mix."

Also earlier this summer, Mitsubishi Power and Georgia Power, alongside the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), successfully tested fuel blending of hydrogen and natural gas at both partial and full load on an M501G natural gas turbine at Georgia Power's Plant McDonough-Atkinson in Smyrna, Georgia. The demonstration project was the first to validate 20% hydrogen fuel blending on an advanced class gas turbine in North America, and the largest test of this kind to date, with the 20% blend providing an approximately 7% reduction in carbon emissions compared to natural gas.

The landmark testing at Plant McDonough-Atkinson was part of a continued commitment to new research and development to build the energy grid of the future and to reduce carbon emissions across its generation fleet, with Georgia Power having already reduced its carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2007.

To learn more about how Georgia Power is building the future of energy, visit www.georgiapower.com/future.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/Georgia Power), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-joins-effort-to-establish-six-state-southeast-hydrogen-hub-301665300.html

SOURCE Georgia Power

FAQ

What is the Southeast Hydrogen Hub initiative by Southern Company (SO)?

The initiative involves forming a coalition of Southeast utility companies to establish a hydrogen hub aimed at reducing carbon emissions and securing federal funding.

How much federal funding is available for the Southeast Hydrogen Hub?

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced $8 billion for regional hydrogen hubs as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

What emissions reduction has Georgia Power achieved with hydrogen fuel blending?

Georgia Power's demonstration of 20% hydrogen fuel blending has resulted in a 7% reduction in carbon emissions compared to natural gas.

What has been Georgia Power's carbon emissions reduction since 2007?

Georgia Power has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 60% since 2007.