Effective Waste Management

The Southern Company system has a long history of managing power generation waste such as coal combustion residuals. We no longer send coal ash to ash ponds. Currently, all ash generated is marketed or placed in permitted landfills. We have marketed, over a five-year average, 93% of ash and gypsum generated from our operations for beneficial use. The beneficial use of coal ash:

• conserves natural resources;
• reduces the amount of coal combustion residuals that must be managed; and,
• helps to minimize or offset the costs related to coal combustion residual storage, landfill construction, and associated operation and maintenance costs

Additionally, coal fly ash used in concrete reduces its carbon footprint, lowers cost, and provides several performance enhancements:

• adds long-term strength and durability to concrete
• reduces permeability making concrete resistant to chemical breakdown
• improves workability allowing for reduced water consumption

The Southern Company system electric operating companies have a longstanding working relationship with Eco Marterial Technologies, the leading producer of sustainable cementitious materials and cement replacement products. For example, in 2024, Georgia Power and Eco Material started a harvesting project at Plant Bowen that will process historically stored ash, beneficiate it, and sell into the  market. Georgia Power’s Plant Branch and Alabama Power’s Plant Barry expect to commence similar commercial beneficial use projects with Eco Material in 2026.  Additionally, Georgia Power partnered with Charah Solutions in an ongoing beneficial use project that, through 2024, has removed approximately 900,000 tons of ash from Plant Mitchell to help create Portland cement.  The electric operating companies continue to research and identify opportunities to maximize the value for the beneficial use of stored ash at its active and retired facilities across the Southern Company footprint. One such research effort, is the Ash Beneficial Use Center located at Plant Bowen, in partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and other utilities, where emerging technologies for beneficially using ash have the space and resources to scale and test.

Advanced Nuclear Fuel Technologies

For nearly 50 years, Southern Company has operated nuclear energy facilities safely and reliably, creating carbon-free electricity for millions of homes and businesses. Southern Nuclear Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is a national leader in nuclear energy, operating eight units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power. We are committed to advancing nuclear fuel technologies that increase fuel efficiency and reduce the number of fuel assemblies to store long-term.