Specialist investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has announced the launch of one of the largest permit-approved data storage campus projects in Brisbane.
The Supernode project is an internationally significant digital infrastructure project that combines both critical energy and data storage capacity, which is to be powered by Queensland-sited renewable power projects.
“Supernode is the latest example of our strategy to make impactful and ‘hard to repeat’ investments that help decarbonise energy intensive data center operations using renewable power solutions,” Quinbrook Co-founder and Managing Partner David Scaysbrook said.
“With Supernode, we will help attract new digital industries to come and flourish here and prosper sustainably by using locally produced, low cost, carbon-free renewable power and excellent data connectivity.”
The site will intersect the new Torus dark fibre data cable currently under construction, directly connecting Brisbane to the international sub-sea cable recently landed at Maroochydore from Guam for the first time ever.
The Supernode project offers the state the opportunity to build and attract new digital economy businesses and jobs for the first time, now that there will be a direct connection to the international subsea data communications network and a material latency advantage over data centers located in the southern states.
The planned hyperscale data storage and BESS infrastructure will represent an estimated capital investment of up to $2.5 billion when fully constructed.
Supernode will also host one of the largest battery storage installations in the Australian National Electricity Market. The project will offer unparalleled power supply access and redundancy with three separate high voltage transmission connections supporting ‘mission critical’ data center operations targeting Net Zero emissions.
Quinbrook secured a 30-hectare site at Brendale and obtained both Foreign Investment Review Board and local planning permissions for a multi-tenant campus of up to four hyperscale data centres that will connect directly to the adjacent South Pine substation.
The high-capacity power connections, together with Queensland’s low cost and abundant renewable power resources, will offer data center customers at Supernode significant renewable power cost savings.
The company plans to procure, self-develop and construct the renewables supply capacity needed by Supernode customers as their energy demands grow.
Quinbrook has also lodged a ‘code assessable’ planning application for a 2,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (‘BESS’) within the Supernode precinct, offering an innovative solution to the critical stability issues facing the Queensland power grid.
“Adding large scale battery storage and renewables to address high power prices, grid stress and the decarbonisation of our power supply at the same time, is a remarkable investment opportunity by any measure,” Quinbrook Senior Director Brian Restall said.
“We extend our thanks and appreciation to the Government of Queensland and to Moreton Bay Regional Council whose support has enabled us to reach this important milestone.”
Source: Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners Media Release. Content has been edited for style and length.