Touted as the largest data storage facility in the southern hemisphere, the Supernode data project on a 30-hectare site in Brendale will bring new jobs to the Moreton Bay area.
In keeping with the new theme of renewable energy in QLD, the whole facility will be powered by solar and battery storage with a capacity of 800 Megawatts.
The Supernode project is expected to deliver large-scale storage facilities of both data and battery energy to a single site and would leverage access from the battery-energy storage in Brendale to the adjacent South Pine electricity substation.
Supernode is among the key components of Quinbrook’s APAC Green Data strategy of developing and constructing renewable energy solutions for green data centres.
The project, according to the firm’s Managing Partner David Scaysbrook, is a $2.5+-billion investment that will be developed in stages at the 30-hectare site.
Although construction is not expected to commence until mid-2023, Quinbrook has already started pitching the 2,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System facility, out to prospective data centre operators, after having received approval for the project from the Foreign Investment Review Board, and planning permission from the Moreton Bay Regional Council.
“We provided $15 million to support the Sunshine Coast Council in delivering Queensland’s first direct International Broadband Network Cable Landing Station and we are seeing the benefits of that investment.
“The digital technology industry can now leverage the speed of the Sunshine Coast’s new international undersea fibre optic connection for uses such as efficient, large-scale data storage.
Why Brendale?
“Our Supernode site at Brendale in Moreton Bay is also an unrivalled location for power supply resilience due to its access to three independent high voltage connections forming the major power transmission node for Queensland at South Pine substation,” Quinbrook’s Mr Scaysbrook explained.
Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery recognised the impact of the project in the region and said that he looks forward to its economic benefits, particularly the jobs it will create once it is fully operational.
“Knowledge, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a priority in Council’s Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS 2020-2041) to position the region as South East Queensland’s $40 billion engine room and to be a top regional innovation hub,” he said.
“As Council, we’re delivering jobs by actively working with the private sector and the state government to facilitate more investments and create 100,000 jobs.
‘’Brendale is a well-established industrial precinct that has been named one of the top 10 places to work in the greater South East Queensland region. Its credentials are buoyed by smart city infrastructure, high productivity, a sustainability focus and easy logistics and market access.”
Generating More Jobs
The Supernode in Brendale is a show of confidence in the Moreton Bay Region and in the state’s potential as a renewable energy powerhouse in the future and an opportunity to generate more jobs, Assistant Minister and Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd said in welcoming the project.
“In the future, the large-scale batteries and data centre could be powered by pure Queensland wind and sunshine.
“Large scale data storage will support new jobs and allow the region to continue to boom in the lead up to Brisbane 2032.”
Statewide Focus on Renewal Energy and Digital Technology Infrastructure
“This is one of the major new economy projects coming to Queensland thanks to the government’s strategic investment in digital technology infrastructure and renewable energy,” Acting Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said.
“It also offers ample scope for powering our large-scale batteries with locally produced solar, wind and hydro sourced renewables which will also power the data centre campus as it grows.”
“This is exactly the type of digital technology enabling project Queensland needs in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, supporting data-intensive industries such as post-production for the burgeoning film industry here in Queensland,” he added.