First stage of Australia’s biggest battery project powers up for first time, eight-hour addition mooted

The first stage of the Supernode battery – destined to be Australia’s largest, at least for a time – has been energised and is now powering up for the first time on the outskirts of Brisbane. And it may be further expanded.

The milestone for the first 260 megawatt (MW), two hour stage one was announced on Wednesday by project owner Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, which says the facility will be operating commercially by the end of the year.

Quinbrook says the first stage has completed “backfeed energisation”, the process of putting electricity into the battery for the first time, which means the stage one substation is now connected to and being fed from the grid.

The Supernode battery has multiple stages, with the first two stages contracted to Origin Energy for a total of 520 MW/ 1856 MWh, and Stanwell Corporation contracting Stage 3 which will take the total capacity of the project to 760 MW/ 3096 MWh. 

That will make it the biggest battery in the country, overtaking the current biggest at Collie – newly completed at 560 MW and 2240 MWh – and the 700 MW, 2,800 MWh Eraring battery in NSW that is currently under construction and due for completion in 2027.

The Supernode battery is also designed to support a huge $2.5 billion data storage centre next door, as well as providing dispatchable services to the grid, firming additional renewables capacity, and acting as a “backstop” to reduce the risk of power outages in Queensland.

“This important milestone marks the initial realisation of our larger ambition to create an innovative energy infrastructure campus that is both significant in scale and beneficial in its impact for the Queensland power grid,” Quinbrook CEO Brian Restall said in a statement. 

“Today’s achievement is a testament to our close collaboration with (transmission company) Powerlink.”

Quinbrook says it is considering a further expansion of the Supernode complex, including an eight-hour battery that will be developed in partnership with China’s battery giant CATL. The company earlier this year suggested that the combination of large scale solar, and long duration batteries, could be compelling for large industrial consumers because of the falling costs, and the rising price of wind energy.

“The Supernode project is a game-changer for Queensland,” said James Allan, a senior director at Quinbrook.

“It is not just about powering the grid; it marks a significant leap forward in firming and renewable energy integration which represents the future of energy storage and grid stability.”

See also Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia for more information.

If you wish to support independent media, and accurate information, please consider making a one off donation or becoming a regular supporter of Renew Economy. Your support is invaluable.