Ørsted energizes 250 MW battery storage system in Texas

Ørsted has switched on a large battery storage system in Needville, Texas, called Old 300 Storage. It can hold 500 megawatt-hours of power at a 250 megawatt capacity, using Tesla Megapack batteries. Batteries like these store extra electricity, often from solar or wind, and release it when the grid needs more power, such as during hot afternoons when air conditioners are running hard.

The storage system sits next to Ørsted's 430 megawatt Old 300 Solar project, which has been running since 2024 and supplies power to Microsoft under a long-term contract. The two projects operate separately, though. The battery system's job is to help Texas grid operator ERCOT keep the lights on during periods of tight supply, not to store power specifically from the solar site.

For homeowners, this isn't a program you can sign up for or get a rebate through. It's a sign of how grid operators in Texas and elsewhere are leaning on battery storage to handle spikes in demand, which can help reduce the odds of blackouts or price surges during peak hours. Ørsted also says the combined solar and storage project will generate about $110 million in local property tax revenue for schools, infrastructure and emergency services in the area. The company has also worked with the local fire department on safety training for the battery system, since large lithium-ion installations require specific fire response planning.