CIP buys 104MW BESS project in Queensland

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has acquired full ownership of the 104MW Gawara Baya wind and battery storage project in North Queensland, Australia. The developer Windlab sold the project, which has now reached financial close and is moving into construction, according to a report from Energy-Storage.News.

The hybrid renewable energy development combines a 408MW wind farm with a 104MW battery energy storage system (BESS) equipped with grid-forming inverters. It is located approximately 65 kilometers south-west of Ingham on Gugu Badhun Country.

CIP acquired the project through its Copenhagen Infrastructure V (CI V) fund, taking 100% ownership from Australian renewable energy company Windlab.

Project Financing and Offtake

The project has secured long-term energy offtake arrangements with two entities: Stanwell, Queensland's state-owned generator, and UK-based energy and technology company SmartestEnergy. It is also participating in the Australian government's Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), which underwrites long-term revenue for eligible projects.

Construction is expected to inject AU$200 million (US$130 million) into the regional economy and support 500 jobs. An annual AU$200,000 Community Benefit Fund will be established for initiatives in the Hinchinbrook and Charters Towers local government areas.

Indigenous and Environmental Commitments

Gawara Baya has been developed through what CIP and Windlab describe as a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Gugu Badhun People. This agreement embeds cultural heritage protection, environmental stewardship, and economic participation into the project.

The development also includes Australia's first renewable energy biodiversity net-gain strategy. This is a voluntary commitment targeting measurable biodiversity improvement over the project's operating life. It is backed by an initial AU$4 million investment delivered in partnership with Traditional Owners and regional conservation experts.

Windlab's Broader Pipeline

The acquisition adds to a broader pipeline of large-scale renewable energy projects Windlab has advanced through Australia's federal approvals process. The company claims a track record of taking more than 1GW of wind assets to financial close. It has referred a further eight projects for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Elsewhere in Queensland, a joint venture between Windlab and Squadron Energy referred the Bungaban Solar Project for EPBC assessment in August 2026. That project is a 500MW solar facility paired with a 500MW BESS. It forms part of Windlab's broader South Queensland Renewable Generation Hub, which is anchored by a large offtake agreement with Rio Tinto.

CIP's Australian Storage Portfolio

The 104MW grid-forming battery adds to CIP's portfolio of Australian battery storage activity. Grid-forming inverters can provide voltage and frequency support historically supplied by synchronous generators like coal and gas plants. Regulators have identified this capability as increasingly necessary as thermal generation retires from the National Electricity Market (NEM).

CIP's portfolio includes both built and exited standalone BESS assets in the country. In April 2026, CIP sold its entire stake in the 240MW/960MWh Summerfield Battery in South Australia to Palisade Investment Partners. The Danish investor had developed that project from financial close through to late-stage construction before divesting as it neared commercial operation.

The firm, which manages 15 funds and has raised around €43 billion (US$49.9 billion) to date, closed its Growth Markets Fund II at approximately US$3 billion in August 2026. That fund targets energy infrastructure across 15 high-growth, middle-income markets.