Quinbrook's Supernode storage project advances with Stage 2 completion and A$469 million Stage 3 financing, strengthening CATL’s role in large‑scale battery deployments
Executive summary: Quinbrook's Supernode battery energy storage project completed Stage 2 commercial operation and secured A$469 million in financing for Stage 3. The financing enables construction of additional utility‑scale storage capacity, reinforcing CATL’s position as a key supplier for large‑scale battery projects and supporting Australia’s renewable‑energy integration goals.
Who is involved: Quinbrook (project developer), CATL (technology and battery supplier), financial lenders providing the A$469 million facility.
Likely next: Stage 3 construction is expected to commence in Q4 2026, with commercial operation targeted for mid‑2027 and first CATL battery module deliveries scheduled for early 2027.
Quinbrook announced that its Supernode battery energy storage project in Australia has reached commercial operation for Stage 2 and closed A$469 million of financing for Stage 3, marking a key step in the phased build‑out of the facility. The financing, backed by CATL as a technology partner, will fund construction of additional storage capacity and signal continued investor confidence in utility‑scale battery projects despite broader market volatility. The milestone positions Quinbrook to expand Australia’s grid‑scale storage portfolio while providing CATL with a significant off‑take opportunity for its battery systems in the Oceania region.
Timeline
- — CATL and Quinbrook Build on Supernode Partnership Following Stage 2 and Stage 3 Major Milestones (PR Newswire)
- — La gigafactoría de Stellantis y CATL en Zaragoza recibe la aprobación definitiva (Expansión)
- — Lithium Prices Tumble As Traders Brace For CATL Supply Surge (OilPrice)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Stage 3 construction to begin Q4 2026, targeting commercial operation by mid‑2027.
- Quinbrook expects to draw down the A$469 million financing tranche by September 2026 to procure CATL battery modules.
- CATL will supply LFP battery cells for Stage 3 under the existing Supernode partnership, with first deliveries scheduled for January 2027.
- Australian Energy Regulator will review the project’s grid‑connection application in October 2026.
Sectors affected
- utility-scale battery energy storage
- renewable energy integration
- electric vehicle battery supply chain
Regulatory implications
- Project must comply with Australia’s National Electricity Rules (NER) for large‑scale storage licensing.
- Eligibility for Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) funding is contingent on meeting milestones by end‑2026.
- Financial close triggers reporting obligations under the Corporations Act 2001 for Quinbrook’s subsidiaries.
Historical parallels
- CATL‑Stellantis gigafactory received definitive approval in Zaragoza, July 2026.
- Lithium carbonate futures fell roughly 10% in June 2026 amid expectations of a CATL supply surge.
- Kandi Technologies subsidiary secured an order to equip 18 CATL‑powered heavy‑truck battery swap stations, July 2020.
Key entities
Sources
- CATL and Quinbrook Build on Supernode Partnership Following Stage 2 and Stage 3 Major Milestones — PR Newswire
- La gigafactoría de Stellantis y CATL en Zaragoza recibe la aprobación definitiva — Expansión
- Lithium Prices Tumble As Traders Brace For CATL Supply Surge — OilPrice
Related cases
- CATL uses a local São Paulo partnership to exhibit its full‑chain energy storage ecosystem at The Smarter E South America 2026, signaling a push into Latin American markets
- CATL and Quinbrook advance their Supernode battery‑storage partnership after completing phase 2 in Brisbane
- CATL and Quinbrook deepen their Supernode battery‑storage partnership after completing phase 2 operations and securing A$469 million for phase 3, strengthening Australia’s large‑scale storage pipeline
- CATL evaluates Spain for a second battery gigafactory to supplement its Zaragoza plant