GE Vernova awarded Stage 3 contract for Queensland’s 780 MW Supernode battery storage project, covering all three development stages

GE Vernova has been selected by Quinbrook as the technology partner for Stage 3 of the Supernode Battery Energy Storage System in Queensland, Australia. The contract makes GE Vernova the sole provider of power conversion, control, and integration technologies across all three stages of one of Australia’s largest battery storage developments.

GE Vernova contracted for all three stages of the Supernode project

That single-provider role is what makes this contract stand out. Most large-scale battery projects spread the work across multiple vendors. Quinbrook went a different route—keeping GE Vernova at the center of every stage, from the first installation through this latest expansion.

For Stage 3, GE Vernova’s scope covers the power conversion system, plant controls, system integration, and grid-connection support. The company also helped Supernode Stage 3 secure Generator Performance Standards (GPS) acceptance—a key regulatory milestone that establishes the agreed technical performance standards for connecting the project to Australia’s National Electricity Market. Getting GPS acceptance before construction wraps up means the project is on solid technical footing going forward.

Combined with the earlier stages, the full Supernode development reaches 780 MW and 3,075 MWh at a single site—a significant concentration of capacity in one place.

Why Supernode required a single integrated technology provider

Supernode sits at a strategically important point in Queensland’s electricity transmission network. That location isn’t incidental—it shapes the technical demands placed on every component of the project.

Building a multi-stage battery facility at a critical network node means consistency in power conversion and control technology genuinely matters. Mixing vendors across stages can create compatibility issues and complicate the integration work needed to make everything function as one coherent unit. Quinbrook’s decision to stick with GE Vernova reflects that logic directly.

The GPS acceptance process makes those technical demands concrete. Connecting to Australia’s National Electricity Market means demonstrating that a project meets specific performance standards—and for a grid-forming battery system, that’s considerably more complex than for conventional storage. GE Vernova is deploying grid-forming technology at Supernode for the first time in Australia, which demands integration expertise that goes well beyond a standard battery installation.

Stage 3 adds 260 MW and brings total site capacity to 780 MW and 3,075 MWh

Stages 1 and 2 are already fully operational, both running on GE Vernova technology, and both rank among the largest battery storage facilities currently active in Australia’s National Electricity Market. That’s the baseline Stage 3 is being added to.

Stage 3 contributes another 260 MW and 1,216 MWh of four-hour storage. Combined with the earlier stages, the full Supernode development reaches 780 MW and 3,075 MWh at a single site—a significant concentration of capacity in one place.

Stage 3 also carries a separate milestone: it’s GE Vernova’s first grid-forming battery energy storage project in Australia. Grid-forming technology changes how batteries interact with the grid. Rather than passively responding to grid conditions, grid-forming systems actively support frequency and system strength—functions that conventional thermal plants have historically provided. Bringing that capability to Australia for the first time, at this scale, is a meaningful step for the country’s electricity infrastructure. Ed Torres, Business Leader Power Conversion & Storage at GE Vernova’s Electrification segment, put it directly: “Supernode shows what is possible when storage, power conversion and intelligent controls work together at scale.”

Background: Supernode’s role in Queensland’s energy transition and future expansion potential

Supernode’s core function is straightforward. It stores electricity when supply is high—typically when renewable generation is running strong—and releases it when demand rises or output fluctuates. That buffering role helps keep supply reliable while making room for more renewables on the network.

Queensland’s power system is in transition, and large-scale storage is increasingly central to managing that shift. Projects like Supernode are built to absorb the variability that comes with higher renewable penetration and provide the kind of stability the grid still needs. The site also has room to grow.

According to Quinbrook Senior Director James Allan, Supernode has capacity for a further 520 MW of expansion—potentially in the form of additional battery storage, data centers, or some combination of both. Allan described the opportunity plainly: “Opportunities to develop infrastructure at this scale, in such a strategically connected location, are exceptionally rare.”

Grid-forming technology fits into this longer-term picture as well. As conventional thermal plants retire, grids need new sources of frequency support and system strength. Batteries with grid-forming capability can step into some of those roles—not as a complete replacement, but as a meaningful contribution to system stability. GE Vernova’s involvement across all three stages reflects a broader industry shift: large-scale battery storage is moving from a supplementary role toward something closer to foundational infrastructure in modern electricity systems.

780 MW and 3,075 MWh of storage capacity

GE Vernova is now the technology provider across all three stages of Supernode, supplying power conversion systems, plant controls, system integration, and grid-connection support throughout. Stage 3 has already achieved GPS acceptance, clearing a significant regulatory hurdle. Once complete, the full development will deliver 780 MW and 3,075 MWh of battery storage at a single site—placing it among Australia’s largest. Stage 3 also introduces grid-forming battery technology to Australia for the first time, adding a new layer of grid-support capability to an already substantial project. The site still holds potential for a further 520 MW of expansion, keeping future options open.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.