Georgia Power signs Google deal to fund nuclear plant power upgrades

Georgia Power, a unit of Southern Company, has signed an agreement with Google to fund upgrades at its Vogtle and Hatch nuclear plants that could add about 96 megawatts of capacity. Pending regulatory approval, the deal would support equipment modifications and deliver about US$900 million in projec

Georgia Power, a unit of Southern Company, said on Monday it had signed an agreement with Google to support upgrades at two of its nuclear plants that could add about 96 megawatts of electricity capacity. The deal, announced on 21 Sept, is pending approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission.

The agreement would fund power upgrades at Georgia Power's share of the Vogtle and Hatch nuclear units. Google's subscription would enable about US$900 million in projected benefits to customers over the life of the units.

The upgrades would involve modifications to equipment including turbines, pumps, motors and cooling systems, allowing the reactors to produce more electricity from existing plant infrastructure. The work would increase output from the current facilities without new reactors.

Georgia Power said the arrangement would help meet large customers' clean-energy goals while shielding non-participating customers from costs tied to the upgrades. The deal comes as surging electricity demand from data centers and other large users is driving interest in expanding existing nuclear plants as a source of round-the-clock, carbon-free power.