Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has pressed ‘go’ on a further expansion of its large-scale Supernode battery storage project in Queensland, taking its planned investment to about $1.4 billion.
It comes after government-owned generator Stanwell Corporation inked an offtake deal for Stage 3 of the project, adjacent to the South Pine switchyard in Brendale, in the City of Moreton Bay.
Quinbrook said the Stage 3 expansion would add a further 250MW/4hr Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), taking the total installed capacity to 750MW and 2540 GWh.
“Stanwell’s contract for Supernode Stage 3 represents the complete ‘sell out’ of our current plans for large-scale battery storage at the highly strategic South Pine site,” Quinbrook co-founder and managing partner David Scaysbrook said.
“Construction for Stages 1 and 2 has already commenced in preparation for delivery of both of those initial stages under our previously announced offtake partnership with Origin Energy.
“Construction of Stage 3 will now head into accelerated planning, taking our total investment in Supernode to over $1.4 billion.”
Stanwell announced its proposal to secure 100 per cent capacity from Stage 3 of Quinbrook’s Supernode project late last year to add 1010 MWh to its energy storage portfolio.
Stanwell chief executive officer Michael O’Rourke said he was delighted to be working with the private sector to boost Stanwell’s ability to provide firmed renewable energy to commercial and industrial retail customers who are looking to decarbonise their operations.
“Battery projects like Supernode enable us to harvest the energy from solar in the middle of the day, and store it for use in the evenings, when demand is highest,” Mr O’Rourke said.
“The proposed Stage 3 of Supernode will do just that whilst also creating further employment opportunities from the overall site expansion. It’s projects like this that will enable Stanwell to continue to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for Queensland and the National Electricity Market.”
Quinbrook will also engage with Stanwell regarding the potential involvement of Stanwell’s Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo) to provide operations and maintenance services for the project.
The Stage 3 project is proposed to generate up to 60 jobs during construction and up to 10 ongoing jobs once operational.
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