The Citrus Flatts Energy Center in Harlingen, Texas, Equinor’s largest battery energy storage project in the United States, has commenced commercial operations. Built and operated by East Point Energy, the U.S. battery storage subsidiary wholly owned by Equinor, this project combines 100 megawatts (MW) of power capacity with 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage.

The facility was designed to store electricity and deliver it to the Texas grid, adding 100 MW of flexible power capacity when market conditions in South Texas require additional power.

Citrus Flatts is the second commercial battery project operated by East Point after acquiring it from Black Mountain Energy Storage in late 2023. The company previously brought the 10-MW/20-MWh Sunset Ridge Energy Center online in Frio County in 2025. Both facilities provide a combined 110 MW of power capacity and 220 MWh of storage, which Equinor estimates is enough electricity to power about 30,000 Texas homes for up to two hours.

To help with costs, this new facility will participate in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power market, allowing the battery to charge when electricity prices are low and later release stored power when prices are high. The facility will also participate in grid services to help balance electricity supply and demand.

“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.

ERCOT operates on a business model based on market activity rather than a long-term utility contract. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), utility-scale solar plants in ERCOT are expected to generate 78 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2026, which means solar panels would generate more electricity than coal in the Texas market for the first time.

EIA also predicts that ERCOT battery capacity will increase from about 15 gigawatts (GW) in 2025 to 37 GW by the end of 2027, as Equinor expands its battery portfolio outside Texas. Four projects in Virginia are expected to begin operating in early 2027, providing a combined 80 MW/160 MWh of storage.