Quinbrook to upsize Queensland Supernode BESS with another Origin PPA

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners will double the grid-connection capacity of its Supernode battery in Queensland, Australia, to 500 MW after expanding the project’s off-take deal with domestic electricity retailer Origin Energy.

The renewables infrastructure investor said on Friday it has signed a long-term off-take contract for the entire 250-MW second phase of the project, which will provide four hours of storage capacity. The two-hour stage one, of 250-MW in size, was contracted by Origin in April.

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The Supernode battery will be installed as part of a AUD-2.5-billion (USD 1.7bn/EUR 1.56bn) plan to create a large data storage complex powered by renewable energy near Brisbane. To be located at Brendale, a suburb in the City of Moreton Bay, the battery will support the data centre’s operations and provide dispatchable power to the grid to firm additional renewables capacity. As initially announced in the summer of 2022, the battery units will be sited near the South Pine substation at Brendale.

“The Supernode offtake will be an important addition to our growing storage portfolio, and reflects our belief that storage will play an important role in helping firm variable renewable energy supply and maintaining secure, reliable energy supply for customers,” said Greg Jarvis, Origin’s head of energy supply and operations.

Quinbrook noted that the land it owns for the Supernode complex is a non-flood prone site and that its proximity to the South Pine central node will help mitigate marginal loss factor and curtailment risk.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.679/EUR 0.623)