Georgia Power, Mitsubishi Power complete record 50% hydrogen test on gas turbine

 Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), and Mitsubishi Power Americas have achieved a critical breakthrough in the use of low-carbon fuels in power generation, completing the world’s most extensive hydrogen fuel blending test on an advanced class gas turbine. The project, conducted at Georgia Power’s Plant McDonough-Atkinson near Atlanta, involved blending 50% hydrogen by volume with natural gas on a high-capacity M501GAC turbine—a global first for this turbine class.

The trial marks a pivotal moment in the utility sector’s push toward decarbonization, with preliminary data showing a 22% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions relative to conventional natural gas combustion. The demonstration, carried out across several weeks during May and June 2025, expands on a previous 20% hydrogen blend test performed at the same facility in 2022.

What is the significance of Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power completing a 50 percent hydrogen blend trial?

The successful 50% hydrogen blending trial represents the culmination of multi-year efforts between the American electric utility developer and Mitsubishi Power to enhance turbine-based energy systems for cleaner fuel use without sacrificing reliability or grid stability. The demonstration is the largest of its kind globally and is notable for being the first to validate such a high hydrogen ratio in an operational advanced-class turbine.

The test was executed on a M501GAC natural gas turbine at Plant McDonough-Atkinson, a facility that has supplied electricity to Georgia for over eight decades and underwent a complete transition from coal to natural gas in 2012. The facility currently powers up to 1.7 million homes and comprises six large-capacity gas turbines and three steam turbines arranged in a 2-on-1 combined cycle configuration.

The newly retrofitted turbine incorporates J-series combustion technology—a platform developed by Mitsubishi Power with high hydrogen co-firing capability. Prior to the test, the unit was converted from steam-cooled to air-cooled operation, enabling faster startup times, lower maintenance costs, and broader fuel flexibility. This foundational engineering shift was key to enabling the high-hydrogen co-firing milestone.

How does the 50% hydrogen blend impact emissions and performance compared to natural gas baselines?

Blending 50% hydrogen into natural gas feedstock for electricity generation significantly reduces carbon emissions. According to Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power, the recent test yielded a 22% drop in CO₂ output compared to 100% natural gas combustion.

The hydrogen used in the demonstration was supplied and managed by Certarus, a logistics specialist in compressed gases. Mitsubishi Power provided a turnkey project scope, including hardware integration, control systems, commissioning support, and risk management protocols.

Each operational phase of the test was validated under both partial and full load conditions, ensuring system performance met industry benchmarks for stability, safety, and responsiveness. The turbine maintained a 283-megawatt output capacity, positioning it as a viable model for future grid-integrated hydrogen co-firing installations.

What are the strategic implications of the test for Georgia Power’s future generation portfolio?

Georgia Power, the largest electric utility subsidiary under Southern Company, is positioning the hydrogen demonstration as a cornerstone in its broader strategy to decarbonize its energy portfolio while ensuring grid resilience. The utility has already reduced its carbon emissions by over 60% since 2007 and continues to participate in the Georgia Public Service Commission’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process to expand clean generation options.

The success of the hydrogen blending test provides technical validation that Georgia Power’s existing gas fleet can be incrementally decarbonized through co-firing strategies while maintaining affordability and operational integrity. As part of its 2023 IRP update, Georgia Power received approval to develop three new Mitsubishi Power simple cycle combustion turbines at Plant Yates in Coweta County, each with built-in hydrogen co-firing capability.

The utility is also advancing proposals for upgrades to ten natural gas turbines at Plant McIntosh, aiming to increase the plant’s capacity by 268 megawatts. These enhancements, slated for consideration in the 2025 IRP, are part of a strategic initiative to leverage both new and existing infrastructure for cleaner energy production.

Rick Anderson, Georgia Power’s senior vice president and senior production officer, noted that natural gas remains vital to the company’s energy mix due to its dispatch flexibility and baseload stability. “Innovative testing such as this is just one way we ensure we can deliver reliable and affordable energy for decades into the future,” Anderson said in a statement.

What institutional perspectives are emerging from this hydrogen blending advancement?

Institutional sentiment surrounding hydrogen blending has shifted notably in recent years, especially as utilities and independent power producers seek alternatives that balance emissions goals with grid reliability. While the deployment of renewables such as solar and wind continues to scale, their intermittency creates a dependency on flexible thermal generation, particularly during peak demand periods or grid disturbances.

The demonstration by Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power serves as a high-profile case study that may encourage peer utilities to explore similar retrofits and hydrogen co-firing investments. Analysts covering Southern Company and broader U.S. utilities view hydrogen integration as an essential transitional mechanism that supports net-zero targets without compromising service availability.

Mitsubishi Power executive vice president Mark Bissonnette emphasized the broader implications for the utility sector, saying, “Building on our earlier successes, this 50% hydrogen blend shows what’s possible with state-of-the-art turbine technology and strategic partnerships. It is a critical milestone for reducing carbon emissions across entire generation fleets.”

How does Southern Company’s R&D approach support hydrogen deployment and energy innovation?

Southern Company’s internal research and development division played a consultative role in the hydrogen blending demonstration. The group has been engaged in multi-year projects related to low-carbon hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and grid-scale utilization.

The Georgia-based utility holding company is also active in national hydrogen hubs, industry consortia, and U.S. Department of Energy collaborations to standardize safety, performance, and regulatory frameworks for hydrogen-based power systems.

Through partnerships like the one with Mitsubishi Power, Southern Company is building out a hydrogen-forward roadmap that anticipates broader commercial deployment of hydrogen-capable turbines by the early 2030s. These capabilities are expected to be increasingly important as renewable penetration deepens and federal incentives for hydrogen infrastructure expand under provisions such as the Inflation Reduction Act.

What is the outlook for hydrogen blending in U.S. gas turbine fleets based on this demonstration?

The McDonough-Atkinson project positions hydrogen blending as a near-term solution that bridges the gap between fossil fuel dependency and a fully renewable-powered grid. By utilizing existing natural gas infrastructure—both physical and regulatory—utilities like Georgia Power can begin decarbonizing without waiting for wholesale overhauls or next-generation technologies to mature.

Industry observers note that this approach is particularly relevant for states experiencing rapid population growth and increasing electricity demand, such as Georgia. Blending hydrogen at 20%–50% levels could become a standard retrofit protocol for advanced-class gas turbines as safety procedures, fuel logistics, and economic models stabilize.

While full-scale 100% hydrogen firing remains a long-term goal, especially as green hydrogen supply chains develop, partial blending demonstrates immediate feasibility. The success of the McDonough-Atkinson demonstration may accelerate project pipelines for similar hybrid deployments across North America.

Future outlook

Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power have jointly laid the groundwork for what could become a transformative shift in how utilities approach flexible, lower-emission energy generation. With proven reductions in CO₂ emissions, compatibility with existing infrastructure, and support from institutional R&D groups, hydrogen blending at commercial scale is now a realistic tool for U.S. utilities.

Analysts expect further testing phases in other jurisdictions and potential regulatory incentives as hydrogen technology progresses. The outcomes at Plant McDonough-Atkinson may eventually inform policy guidance, investment flows, and interconnection standards for future utility-grade hydrogen infrastructure.

As utilities look for ways to balance reliability, cost, and climate targets, Georgia Power’s milestone could serve as a blueprint for scalable, low-carbon energy solutions across the continent.