State-owned Stanwell Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to exclusively negotiate commercial arrangements for Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners’ proposed Gladstone State Development Area (GDSA) Energy Hub Project in Queensland, Australia.
The Hub is a multi-technology energy storage and generation facility combining gas turbines with a 780MW/6,240MWh (8-hour duration) battery energy storage system (BESS).
The GSDA Energy Hub Project includes plans for up to 1,080MW of open-cycle gas turbines fitted with integrated synchronous condenser capabilities complemented by 780MW battery storage system.
The BESS component alone will provide 6.24GWh of storage capacity, positioning it among Australia’s largest grid-scale energy storage developments, trumping the 2.8GWh Eraring BESS in New South Wales and the already operational 1.6GWh Waratah Super Battery, which recently entered a planned shutdown.
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Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners will deliver the project in several stages through its development affiliate, Private Energy Partners, creating what the companies describe as a “multi-technology renewables firming and grid resiliency solution” in a strategic location that supports Queensland’s heavy industries.
The facility aims to provide new firming capacity for Queensland’s energy system within the National Electricity Market (NEM), which spans Australia’s eastern and southern states and territories, including Tasmania.
“The proposed GSDA Energy Hub Project will combine gas power generation and 8-hour battery storage through a novel configuration in a strategic location that supports Queensland’s critical heavy industries,” said Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke.
“This agreement provides Stanwell with exclusivity to negotiate commercial arrangements to facilitate the GSDA Energy Hub Project.”
CATL to provide long-duration energy storage solution
The partnership builds on an existing collaboration between Stanwell and Quinbrook, following their recent agreement to demonstrate the first 8-hour duration EnerQB BESS at the Stanwell Power Station.
The 12-month trial will explore the deployment of the long-duration energy storage (LDES) solution, EnerQB BESS technology, developed by CATL, a global leader in battery manufacturing.
LDES in Australia is often defined as having 8-hour or longer duration of discharge at full power output and is set to become an integral component of the country’s energy storage landscape, particularly in the NEM, as coal-fired power stations are phased out.
The technology is also set to be a key discussion point at the upcoming Energy Storage Summit Australia 2026, which returns to Sydney on 17-18 March 2026.
Long-duration storage will feature across both days, with inclusion in the ‘What are the Implications of 100% Renewable Energy Sources to ESS?’ and the ‘Beyond Lithium: Diversifying Australia’s Energy Storage Portfolio into the Next Stage of Storage’ panel discussions.
Quinbrook CEO Brian Restall emphasised the partnership’s alignment with Queensland’s energy transition objectives.
“Our ongoing partnership with Stanwell demonstrates our shared commitment to delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for the Sunshine state,” Restall said.
He noted that Queensland “remains a very attractive place to invest in the energy transition” despite recent policy changes following the state’s change of government.
The GSDA Energy Hub Project represents a continuation of Stanwell’s expanding energy storage portfolio. Earlier this year, the state-owned generator reached the halfway mark on its 1,200MWh Stanwell BESS project and is pursuing a 4GWh pumped hydro project while negotiating Supernode deals.
The project’s location in the Gladstone State Development Area positions it to support the region’s aluminium smelting, liquefied natural gas, and other industrial operations while contributing to grid stability across Queensland’s interconnected electricity system.
The Energy Storage Summit Australia 2026 will be returning to Sydney on 17-18 March 2026. To secure your tickets and learn more about the event, please visit the official website.
