Supernode Battery Project Completes Stage 2, Secures Funding for Stage 3

Quinbrook's Supernode battery energy storage project in Queensland has achieved commercial operation for its second stage and secured A$469 million in debt financing for the third phase. This marks continued progress for what is set to become Australia's largest operational battery energy storage system (BESS) campus.

The project, located at Brendale near Brisbane, sits adjacent to the South Pine substation, a critical node in the state's power grid. This position offers favorable marginal loss factors and roughly 4,000 MW of connection capacity, supporting phased expansion alongside Queensland's broader energy transition.

With the latest financing, total debt raised across the first three stages now stands at approximately A$1.2 billion. Once complete, these stages will deliver 780 MW / 3,074 MWh of capacity, all of which is already contracted under long-term offtake agreements.

CATL serves as the core energy storage system supplier for all three stages. Stages 1 and 2 use its EnerC Plus systems, while Stage 3 will deploy TENER S units. The design allows for back-to-back installation, cutting the required site footprint by roughly 20% compared to earlier models. An integrated liquid-cooling system keeps internal temperature differences within 5°C, supporting a 20-year operational life.

Beyond hardware, CATL has signed a Long-Term Service Agreement covering condition monitoring, performance tracking, fault response, and preventive maintenance. This lifecycle support aims to ensure reliable operation over the asset's full duration.

Quinbrook's Managing Director for Australia, Tim Hornemand, highlighted the on-schedule delivery of both Origin-contracted stages and expressed confidence in the project's trajectory. CATL's Chief Commercial Officer, Tan Libin, noted that energy storage is becoming a strategic asset, requiring collaboration and scalable deployment to create long-term value.

The two companies are also exploring EnerQB, an eight-hour battery storage solution, for potential future stages of the Supernode development.