Global investment giant Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has announced that the 250 MW/1,040 MWh second stage of its Supernode battery project in Southeast Queensland has successfully commenced commercial operations, taking the total capacity of the energy storage facility to 520 MW/1,858 MWh.
Quinbrook also announced it has sealed a AUD 469 million ($327 million) debt finance deal for the third stage of the project that will increase Supernode’s capacity to 780 MW/3,074 MWh. That third stage is expected to be completed in 2027.
The first two stages of the Supernode battery are now operating under a long-term tolling agreement with energy generator and retailer Origin, providing grid services and energy storage capabilities to support the utility’s renewable energy portfolio.
The 260 MW/1,216 MWh third stage is supported by a 15-year offtake agreement with Queensland government-owned energy company Stanwell.
Quinbrook Managing Director and Australia regional lead Tim Horneman said the successful delivery of the first two stages, achieved in partnership with Quinbrook affiliate Private Energy Partners, marks another successful milestone in the project’s development.
“Achieving commercial operations for Stage 2 means we’ve successfully delivered both Origin-contracted stages on schedule, an outcome we’re incredibly proud of given the complexity of commissioning utility-scale battery storage projects in Australia,” he said.
“With Stage 3 now fully financed, we’ve reached another important milestone in Supernode’s continuing development. The ongoing support of our banking partners also reflects confidence in the Supernode project, our delivery track record and the long-term outlook for battery storage in Australia.”
While the first two stages together comprise the largest operating battery energy storage system in the NEM today, Quinbrook is also working on plans for a fourth-stage expansion that would add an additional 250 MW/2,000 MWh of capacity.
Quinbrook Senior Director James Allan said opportunities to develop infrastructure at this scale, in such a strategically connected location, are exceptionally rare.
Supernode is located adjacent to the South Pine switchyard in Brisbane’s north, which is the central node of the electricity network in Queensland, with an estimated 80% of Queensland’s traded electricity flowing through daily.
“From the outset, Supernode was designed as more than just a battery storage project,” he said. “Its unique location at the heart of Queensland’s transmission network makes it ideally placed to support the state’s transitioning power system well into the future.”
“The site also has capacity for a further 520 MW of expansion, which could include battery storage, data centers or a combination of both.”
The financing for the third stage has been provided by a syndicate of just five lenders, with continued backing from Commonwealth Bank of Australia, MUFG and Deutsche Bank, alongside new lending partners DNB and Rabobank.
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