Google, Georgia Power For 96 MW Of Nuclear Uprates

Georgia Power and Google have announced an agreement under which Google will support uprates at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle and Plant Hatch nuclear units, adding about 96 MW to the grid serving Georgia Power customers. Uprates are engineering modifications and equipment upgrades that increase the maximum power output of existing nuclear power plants. Georgia Power projects that Google’s subscription will enable about US$900 million in customer benefits over the units’ operating lives. The agreement requires approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC).

Nuclear supplied more than 25% of Georgia Power’s generation last year, including Plant Vogtle, near Waynesboro, Georgia. Plant Vogtle is the nation’s largest clean-energy generator.

The agreement is included in filings with the PSC under Dockets 44280 and 56002, submitted on the announcement date. The filings propose a new Nuclear Uprate (NU-1) tariff and request approval of an extended power uprate (EPU) for Plant Hatch Units 1 and 2. Georgia Power previously had an EPU for Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 approved in its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.

Under the subscription program, Google subscribes to the NU-1 tariff and receives zero-emission credits representing the carbon-free attributes of the power produced by the uprates. Georgia Power says the structure protects customers who do not participate from the uprates’ incremental costs. The program builds on the utility’s existing renewable energy offerings and was contemplated in the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.

An EPU increases a nuclear unit’s electrical output through targeted modifications to equipment such as turbines, pumps, motors, and cooling systems. The changes allow the reactor to operate at a higher licensed thermal power, producing more steam and electricity while using the existing reactor fuel design and plant infrastructure.

“Many of our large customers have specific clean energy goals, and we continue to work with the Georgia PSC to create programs that not only help them meet their goals, but align with our Customer Protection Pledge, enhancing the reliability and resiliency of the power grid and creating savings for all customers. We appreciate Google’s continued leadership in this space and partnership in developing this program, which we see as the latest example of how large-load growth can benefit all electric customers,” said Aaron Mitchell, senior vice president of strategic growth at Georgia Power.

“Google data centers are long-term investments in the communities we call home, catalyzing local economic development and accelerating clean energy deployment. They also serve as a proof point for how we can unlock the significant opportunity to bring new nuclear power online by expanding the capacity of the existing nuclear fleet. This collaboration with Georgia Power ensures that digital infrastructure growth goes hand-in-hand with positive local impact, helping to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in direct customer benefits and supporting a more affordable, clean, and reliable energy system for all Georgia residents,” said Lucia Tian, director of advanced energy technologies at Google.