The Citrus Flatts Energy Center in South Texas has begun commercial operations, becoming Equinor’s largest battery project in the United States to date. The center adds 100 megawatts of capacity and 200 megawatt-hours of storage capacity to the state’s electricity grid.
The project is located in Harlingen, Cameron County, and was developed and is operated by East Point Energy, Equinor’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary specializing in battery storage. East Point acquired the project from Black Mountain Energy Storage in late 2023.
A larger project within an expanding portfolio
Citrus Flatts is East Point’s second project to reach commercial operation. The first project was the Sunset Ridge Energy Center in Frio County, with a capacity of 10 megawatts and storage capacity of 20 megawatt-hours, which began operations last year.
According to Equinor, the two projects together can provide enough electricity to supply approximately 30,000 homes in Texas for up to two hours. This does not mean that the batteries will continuously cover these homes’ consumption; rather, it illustrates the amount of energy that can be stored and discharged during limited periods.
A commercial model linked to market prices
Citrus Flatts will operate entirely under an independent commercial model in the ERCOT market, without relying on a traditional long-term contract with a utility. The project will generate revenue by purchasing electricity when prices are low and storing it, then selling it when prices rise, in addition to providing services to the grid.
Equinor subsidiary Danske Commodities will handle market operations and portfolio optimization. This model makes the project’s returns dependent on price movements and grid needs, rather than guaranteeing them in advance through a long-term utility contract.
Why does this news matter?
Batteries are becoming increasingly important in Texas as solar power additions and electricity storage accelerate. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects utility-scale solar power in the ERCOT market to produce approximately 78 billion kilowatt-hours in 2026, surpassing coal for the first time. It also expects ERCOT battery capacity to rise from approximately 15 gigawatts in 2025 to 37 gigawatts by the end of 2027.
In practical terms, the project demonstrates how energy storage can operate as a flexible element in a grid where generation and demand levels change, and participate in the market rather than serving only as a fixed reserve. However, the source does not provide details about expected revenues, the actual storage duration under different operating conditions, or the project’s specific impact on electricity prices; therefore, these outcomes cannot be considered settled.
Next projects
Equinor said its next U.S. projects are under construction in Virginia and include four batteries with a combined capacity of 80 megawatts and storage capacity of 160 megawatt-hours. These projects are expected to enter service in the PJM market in early 2027.