A major new battery project outside Houston, Texas, has added backup power to one of the busiest electricity markets in the country at a time when demand is hitting record highs.
For households and businesses that rely on steady air conditioning and uninterrupted power, that kind of grid support can make a meaningful difference when extreme heat or sudden demand spikes put added strain on the system.
Here's what to know
In mid-September, SMT Energy and FlexGen announced that Houston IV, a 160-megawatt / 320-megawatt-hour battery facility, had begun operations, according to Energy Storage News.
The facility joins the more than one dozen projects SMT Energy and FlexGen have developed to support the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid. Irby Construction Company provided the engineering, procurement, and construction services.
Battery systems like the newly activated Houston IV store electricity when it is readily available and release it when demand rises. That can help stabilize the grid during periods when power use climbs quickly, especially in hot weather, when air-conditioning demand can soar.
According to the publication, the project was commissioned in just six weeks, deploying three times faster than its original timeline.
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More background
A battery system does not replace every other form of power generation, but it can help smooth out short-term volatility and give grid operators another option during periods of stress.
SMT had secured $135 million for Houston IV in February 2025, and in May, the company began construction with utility CenterPoint Energy, Energy Storage News reported.
The Houston IV project is part of the continued buildout of battery storage meant to support the ERCOT grid. With data-center development, population growth in urban areas, and increasing temperatures, demand for electricity in Texas has reached all-time highs.
As more battery storage comes online, utilities and grid operators gain another tool to manage demand more efficiently. This can help ensure that power is available when ratepayers need it most while also helping to curb soaring energy costs.
Where can I learn more?
Houston IV is part of a wider push to use batteries to steady Texas' fast-changing electricity demand.
• Across Texas, an Intersect Power project will bring $800 million in battery installations to strengthen the grid.
• In Texas, a startup is testing an earthen battery system for longer-duration grid storage.
• EnergyTag is working on tracing battery power across the U.S. grid by carbon intensity.
In Texas, where energy demand can spike fast, every new storage facility can ease demand and help consumers save money.
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