Renewables
Southern Company is pursuing promising renewable energy sources and technologies. Solar- and wind-powered electricity may develop as supplemental generation options when the sun shines and the wind blows. We support these options where practical. Other renewables, such as biomass, are showing promise for baseload power.
BiomassSouthern Company has conducted extensive testing of biomass co-firing at existing pulverized-coal power plants. We have tested switchgrass, sawdust, and wood chips and are currently working with the U.S. Forest Service to evaluate co-firing chipped wood from tree-thinning activities. We estimate that biomass sources in our service territory, such as switchgrass and woody biomass, have the potential to reliably and economically supply a few hundred megawatts of generation.
We are also pursuing conversion of coal-fired plants to 100 percent biomass. On August 22, 2008, Georgia Power filed an application with the Georgia Public Service Commission to convert Plant Mitchell Unit 3 to a completely biomass-fired electric generating station. This would result in one of the largest wood-fueled biomass generating facilities in the country.
The use of biomass reduces sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions compared with coal, plus the renewable energy source absorbs carbon dioxide from the air as it grows.
If approved, conversion of the plant's largest unit from coal to biomass would take about 14 months. At full load, the biomass-fueled unit would generate approximately 96 megawatts of energy—enough to power 12,000 homes—and offer nearly continuous operation, making it a cost-effective, reliable renewable.
Working with wood-chipping vendors, technology has been demonstrated to co-fire wood chips in small percentages with coal. In the fall of 2008, this technology was demonstrated at Alabama Power's Plant Greene County, providing up to 15 MW of renewable energy.
In collaboration with Auburn University, the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center, and the Electric Power Research Institute, Southern Company is investigating gasification of wood and other biomass fuels. The synthetic gas could be used to fire combustion turbines or combined cycle power plants. As a gas, the fuel would combust more efficiently and produce more energy and fewer emissions per megawatt hour.
WindIn 2006, Southern Company and Georgia Tech completed a study of the feasibility of generating electricity from wind off the coast of Georgia. The study found average wind speeds of 16-17 mph about five miles off the Georgia coast. These "Class 4" winds have been used in other areas of the country for land-based wind farms but offshore wind resources typically must be stronger to overcome higher construction and operational costs.
Southern Company will continue to pursue the potential for development of feasible wind energy generation in coastal areas. The advent of lower-speed and more hurricane-tolerant wind turbine designs may overcome economic and technological hurdles. With community support, wind energy may yet someday contribute to the energy needs of the Southeast. See also DOE wind resource map.
SolarWe're engaging in solar research to find the best solar technology for our region. The generally hot and humid conditions in the Southeast create clouds and haze that decrease photovoltaic performance. The research will examine if advanced photovoltaic technologies offer the potential for low-emission, cost-effective niche generation in the Southeast.
Like wind energy, solar energy offers supplemental power generation. We are constructing a facility to evaluate the performance of seven 5-kilowatt photovoltaic technologies. The demonstration project at the Georgia Power corporate office will collect data for 12 months during 2009.
Hydroelectric PowerHydropower remains one of the cleanest, most environmentally safe and affordable sources of energy. Southern Company has 34 hydroelectric facilities which provide up to 5 percent of the company's power generation. In addition, these facilities provide more than 200,000 acres of lakes and more than 5,000 miles of shoreline for use by the general public.
