The 100-MW/200-MWh battery energy storage facility in Harlingen has entered operations as East Point Energy’s second operating project in Texas.
Published by Allstream Insiders
Allstream Insiders Summary
East Point Energy has completed and started operations at the 100-megawatt/200-megawatt-hour Citrus Flatts battery energy storage project in Harlingen, Texas. The facility can discharge at its rated 100-MW output for approximately two hours and is East Point Energy’s second operating project in the state.
East Point Energy is a wholly owned Equinor company. Equinor said Citrus Flatts and the smaller Sunset Ridge Energy Center will operate on a fully merchant basis in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market, commonly known as ERCOT.
The completion moves Citrus Flatts from construction into operations. East Point Energy announced the milestone on September 4, 2026, following Equinor’s September 3 announcement that construction was complete and operations had started.
What is the capacity of the Citrus Flatts energy storage project?
Citrus Flatts has a rated power capacity of 100 MW and an energy-storage capacity of 200 MWh. The relationship between those two figures gives the facility an approximately two-hour discharge duration at full rated output.
| Project detail | Company-reported information |
|---|---|
| Project | Citrus Flatts |
| Location | Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas |
| Power capacity | 100 MW |
| Energy capacity | 200 MWh |
| Duration at rated output | Approximately two hours |
| Project stage | Construction complete; operations started |
| Market | ERCOT; fully merchant |
| Ownership and operations | Fully owned by Equinor and operated through East Point Energy |
East Point Energy said the project can provide enough power for tens of thousands of homes for two hours at peak output. Equinor separately said Citrus Flatts and the 10-MW/20-MWh Sunset Ridge facility can together supply around 30,000 homes for up to two hours. The household comparison is an illustrative company estimate rather than a guarantee of continuous service to a defined number of homes.
How will Citrus Flatts operate in the ERCOT market?
Equinor said Citrus Flatts and Sunset Ridge will operate as fully merchant battery assets in ERCOT. Under a merchant model, project revenue is tied to participation in the power market rather than a company-disclosed long-term offtake contract.
Equinor said it will combine the projects with its power-market capabilities and work with its energy trading subsidiary, Danske Commodities, on operational capabilities, asset management and portfolio optimization.
Battery energy storage systems can charge when electricity is available and discharge when additional power is needed. The specific services and dispatch activity provided by Citrus Flatts will depend on ERCOT market conditions and operating decisions. The company announcements do not identify a dedicated customer or power-purchase agreement for the facility.
How did East Point Energy develop Citrus Flatts?
East Point Energy acquired Citrus Flatts from Black Mountain Energy Storage in late 2023 and announced a final investment decision for the project in April 2024. At that time, East Point Energy identified Cameron County as the project location and said construction would begin during 2024.
The company initially anticipated commercial operation by early 2026. The September 2026 announcements supersede that earlier forecast by confirming that construction is complete and operations have started.
Citrus Flatts follows Sunset Ridge, a 10-MW/20-MWh battery storage facility in Frio County that entered operations in 2025. Equinor describes Citrus Flatts as its largest energy storage project placed into operation in the United States.
What community measures accompanied the project?
East Point Energy said it worked with the Harlingen Fire Department on training and site visits intended to inform local emergency-response planning. The company said training and engagement with first responders will continue during facility operations.
East Point Energy also reported a $175,000 donation for improvements to the Harlingen Soccer Complex. The company said Citrus Flatts is expected to generate millions of dollars in local tax revenue, although the completion announcement does not provide a detailed tax-payment schedule.
Allstream perspective: Citrus Flatts moves from construction into long-term operations
The immediate project milestone is the transition of a 100-MW/200-MWh battery installation from construction to operations in the ERCOT market. This is a completed-project announcement rather than a notice of new construction or an active solicitation.
For energy-storage contractors and suppliers, future operating requirements at a facility of this type could involve services such as:
- Battery-system inspection and preventive maintenance
- Power-conversion and electrical balance-of-plant support
- Energy-management, controls and monitoring-system services
- Fire detection, emergency-response planning and safety training
- Thermal-management and auxiliary-system maintenance
- Substation, transformer and switchgear inspection
- Site security, communications and vegetation management
These categories are conditional Allstream analysis based on the operating needs commonly associated with grid-scale battery facilities. They are not announced bid packages, contractor awards or procurement opportunities for Citrus Flatts. East Point Energy and Equinor did not disclose the battery supplier, engineering and construction contractors, construction cost or an upcoming procurement program in the completion announcements.
