Queensland’s Moreton Bay City Council has welcomed the announcement that construction of one of the state’s biggest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) is set to begin.

It’s the first stage of the Supernode project, which will see the development of a $2.5 billion battery and data centre south-east Queensland.

The state government announced financial close and the start of construction for the BESS.

The 2000 megawatt battery system will be located near the South Pine electricity substation in the Moreton Bay suburb of Brendale, where it will store surplus solar and wind energy.

It will also provide power for a green data storage facility to be built at the site by Queensland-based global renewables investor Quinbrook.

Origin Energy (Origin) has committed to the full capacity of stage one under a long-term offtake contract.

One of Australia’s biggest batteries

“Quinbrook’s battery storage system will be one of the largest installations in Australia, bringing economic benefits and offering greater energy security to Queenslanders,” Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“I look forward to seeing the project grow and benefit from Brendale’s already strong business ecosystem and smart city infrastructure.”

Quinbrook Co-Founder David Scaysbrook said Supernode will deliver large-scale storage at the best possible location in the State’s power grid.

The successful close of Supernode stage one is significant for Queensland as it delivers valuable large-scale storage at the best possible location in the State’s power grid.

David Scaysbrook

“The successful close of Supernode stage one is significant for Queensland as it delivers valuable large-scale storage at the best possible location in the State’s power grid,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Premier Steven Miles said Supernode is one of a number of digital technology and renewables projects the government is investing in.

“Renewable energy generation and storage like this will power us towards our 70 per cent renewable energy targets,” he said.

It comes after the Queensland government in 2017 provided $15 million to help Sunshine Coast Council to deliver Queensland’s first direct international data and telecommunications undersea network cable.

That cable is now operational and enabling projects like the Supernode BESS, the government says.