New 100-megawatt battery storage center in Texas set to boost US power grid

Equinor has started commercial operations at its largest battery energy storage project in the U.S., bringing 100 megawatts (MW) of flexible power capacity to South Texas. The Citrus Flatts Energy Center began operating in Harlingen, Cameron County, as Texas continues to expand its electricity storage infrastructure rapidly. The project combines 100 MW of power capacity with 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage. It was built and is operated by East Point Energy, the U.S. battery storage subsidiary wholly owned by Equinor. East Point acquired the project from Black Mountain Energy Storage in late 2023. The facility is designed to store electricity and deliver it to the Texas grid when market conditions require additional power. Second battery now in operation Citrus Flatts is the second battery project operated by East Point to enter commercial service. The company previously brought the 10 MW/20 MWh Sunset Ridge Energy Center online in Frio County in 2025. Together, the two facilities provide 110 MW of power capacity and 220 MWh of storage. Equinor estimates they can collectively supply enough electricity to power about 30,000 Texas homes for up to two hours. Citrus Flatts will participate directly in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power market. Its business model is based entirely on market activity rather than a conventional long-term utility contract. Batteries will trade power in ERCOT The battery can charge when electricity prices are low and release stored power when prices increase. It can also participate in grid services that help balance electricity supply and demand. Equinor’s energy trading subsidiary, Danske Commodities, will manage the facility’s market operations and optimize how the battery participates in ERCOT. “This project will generate millions in tax revenue to support local priorities. As energy demand surges across Texas, it will strengthen the electrical grid and help keep energy costs affordable for families and businesses,” said Andrew Foukal, CEO of East Point Energy, in the press release. Texas has become a major market for large-scale battery projects as electricity demand rises and renewable generation expands. Texas battery capacity set for rapid growth The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects utility-scale solar plants in ERCOT to generate 78 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2026. That would put solar generation ahead of coal in the Texas market for the first time. Battery storage is also expected to grow sharply. EIA forecasts ERCOT battery capacity will increase from about 15 gigawatts (GW) in 2025 to 37 GW by the end of 2027. Equinor is also expanding its battery portfolio outside Texas. Four projects currently under construction in Virginia will provide a combined 80 MW/160 MWh of storage. Those facilities are expected to begin operating in the PJM power market in early 2027, extending Equinor’s U.S. battery storage operations into another major electricity market. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.