Equinor’s largest US battery energy storage project to date is now operating in South Texas, adding 100 megawatts (MW) of flexible capacity to the state’s fast-growing power grid.
The Citrus Flatts Energy Center is a 100 MW/200 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery in Harlingen, Cameron County. It was built and is operated by East Point Energy, Equinor’s wholly owned US battery storage subsidiary. East Point acquired the project from Black Mountain Energy Storage in late 2023.
Citrus Flatts is East Point’s second battery to reach commercial operation, following the 10 MW/20 MWh Sunset Ridge Energy Center in Frio County last year. Equinor says the two battery storage projects can collectively supply enough electricity to power around 30,000 Texas homes for up to two hours.
The battery will operate on a fully merchant basis in the ERCOT power market. That means it won’t rely on a traditional long-term utility contract; it will earn money by buying and storing electricity when prices are low, selling it when prices rise, and providing grid services. Equinor’s energy trading subsidiary, Danske Commodities, will handle market operations and portfolio optimization.
“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.
Texas is adding solar and battery storage at a blinding pace. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects utility-scale solar to generate 78 billion kilowatt-hours in ERCOT in 2026, beating coal for the first time. It also forecasts that ERCOT battery capacity will grow from around 15 GW in 2025 to 37 GW by the end of 2027.
Equinor says its next US projects are already under construction in Virginia: four batteries totaling 80 MW/160 MWh, expected to come online in the PJM power market in early 2027.
Read more: Texas is about to overtake California in battery storage
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