Irby Construction Company, in partnership with SMT Energy and CenterPoint Energy, has launched construction of the SMT Houston IV project, a 320MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) designed to strengthen the reliability of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
The facility, located in Houston, will provide fast-response power during periods of peak demand, supporting both grid stability and the integration of renewable energy sources.
Irby Construction is serving as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, leveraging its extensive experience in electrical infrastructure.
SMT Energy, through its affiliate SMT Houston IV LLC, is the project owner and developer, while CenterPoint Energy will act as the interconnecting utility, integrating the BESS into Houston’s broader electrical network.
Construction is set to begin this month, with completion targeted for early July.
A ground-breaking ceremony in Houston marked the start of the project, featuring a symbolic cord-cutting attended by representatives from all three organisations and key stakeholders.
Amanda Cobb Davis, Irby’s director of operations for BESS, stated: “We’re excited to work with SMT on this project.
“We have invested a year of hard work to ensure that the project is engineered efficiently, and we are ready to get our boots on the ground and start construction.”
Kevin Midei, SMT EPC senior vice-president, emphasised the collaborative effort behind the project, saying: “This ground-breaking reflects years of detailed planning and collaboration with CenterPoint Energy, Harris County, FlexGen, and Irby Construction Company.
“Our focus now shifts to executing a tightly managed construction phase, prioritising safety, quality, and schedule from the first day on-site through commissioning.”
Tony Gardner, CenterPoint Energy SVP and chief customer officer, highlighted the project’s broader impact: “Projects like this demonstrate how collaboration and forward-thinking infrastructure come together to power a more resilient energy future.
“At CenterPoint, we recently completed nearly 90 per cent of our overall grid resiliency improvements.”
Once operational, SMT Houston IV is expected to store and dispatch enough electricity to power the annual consumption of approximately 8,800 Texas homes, further supporting ERCOT grid reliability and resiliency.
