Quinbrook had a busy week last week, achieving two key milestones in the scaling of its Queensland BESS efforts.
The company announced Stage 1 of its Supernode South Pine asset had commenced commercial operations, bringing 619 megawatt-hours (MWh) of capacity into Queensland’s electricity grid. Origin Energy is managing the asset through a tolling agreement.
Quinbrook chief executive officer (CEO) Brian Restall credited the achievement to the “execution capability” of his team and partners, while also recognising Origin’s involvement.
“Today’s milestone … reflects the strength of Quinbrook’s long-term partnership with Origin Energy, whose collaboration and offtake commitment has been instrumental in delivering this globally significant project,” he said.
Stage 1 of Supernode South Pine is being followed by Stages 2 and 3, which are both under construction and would bring it to a 780MW/3074MWh facility. A potential Stage 4 is set to host the first deployment of Quinbrook’s EnerQB long-duration energy storage solution.
A referral was also lodged for Quinbrook’s Supernode North BESS and substation under the new-look EPBC Act last week.
The project, which will support another 780MW BESS facility, will be co-located with a proposed metallurgical silicon production facility within the Landsdown Eco-Industrial Precinct just outside Townsville. The South Pine asset, on the other hand, is located in Brendale in the Moreton Bay region just north of Brisbane.
Solquartz and Private Energy Partners – Quinbrook affiliated companies – are overseeing Supernode North, which will involve the integration of grid-scale lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
LFP batteries replace the nickels and cobalts found in other battery chemistries with iron and phosphate – considered both more environmentally friendly and more abundant than the former minerals.
Public comment for Supernode North is open here until March 4.
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