#Germany #Munich #Sodium-ion #CATL #TENER Sodium

CATL Unveils the TENER Sodium Energy Storage System

On June 22, 2026, in Munich, CATL made a significant leap in the energy sector by launching the TENER Sodium, the world's first commercially viable sodium-ion energy storage system. This breakthrough marks a pivotal moment in the quest to shift from lithium-based technologies towards more sustainable and abundant resources available worldwide. The TENER Sodium has reached commercial readiness, with cumulative deliveries expected to hit 1 GWh by the end of 2026 and international sales set to commence in June 2027.

Embracing Energy Independence

During the launch event, William Wu, Director of CATL's Energy Storage Technology Center, stated, “CATL is committed to promoting energy independence globally while providing long-term value to our customers. Our aim is to develop new battery chemistries derived from resources plentiful across all continents. This approach supports the energy needs of all eight billion people while offering longer cycle life and enhanced safety.” This ambition positions sodium and lithium as the twin pillars of future energy storage solutions.

As renewable energy sources continue to proliferate and the demand for energy surges—exacerbated by advancements in artificial intelligence—energy storage is transforming from a supporting element to critical infrastructure. Traditional energy storage systems have relied heavily on lithium, which has a concentrated supply chain and fluctuating prices, introducing significant risk. In contrast, sodium is over a thousand times more abundant than lithium, has superior performance in extreme temperatures, offers higher safety potential, and is more cost-effective. These factors underscore the necessity for technological transformation in energy storage.

Key Advantages of TENER Sodium

The TENER Sodium system provides over 30 MWh of rated power through a fully modular architecture, delivering three primary benefits to customers:

1. Simplified Project Deployment: Each module weighs approximately 42 tons. To configure a 1 GWh installation, only 34 units are needed, streamlining the deployment process.
2. Enhanced Configuration Flexibility: The architecture separates power and energy blocks, allowing for flexible storage durations of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours, tailored to specific project demands.
3. Lower Maintenance Costs: Damaged modules can be isolated and replaced independently, thus improving station-level availability, reducing operational costs, and maximizing asset utilization.

In addition to modular convenience, CATL has developed a station-level platform specifically for sodium-ion systems, which includes:

• - Voltage Regulation: The Bi-DC system automatically adjusts low-voltage levels to ensure optimal output throughout operational ranges, enhancing round-trip efficiency by nearly 2%. This equates to millions of additional kilowatt-hours annually for a 1 GWh storage facility.
• - Battery Management System (BMS): Designed to leverage the unique voltage curve of sodium cells, CATL's BMS improves State of Charge (SOC) accuracy and overcharge tolerance by 20% over lithium cells, thereby enhancing operational safety.
• - Ultra-Low Auxiliary Energy Consumption: With a unique air flow design that mitigates thermal hotspots, the system reduces heat generation by nearly 30%, cutting auxiliary energy usage from an industry average of 2% down to 1%, resulting in substantial cost savings for large-scale long-term projects.

Additionally, the TENER Sodium operates at a noise level of just 65 decibels, making it 10 decibels quieter than conventional systems—addressing community concerns and allowing for installations near power demand centers, further reducing transmission and distribution costs. Importantly, TENER Sodium is compatible with existing Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) systems, maintaining the same footprint and allowing for seamless technology switching without significant design changes.

A Decade in the Making

The maturity and reliability of TENER Sodium have not been achieved overnight. CATL has invested nearly €1.2 billion over the past decade in sodium-ion battery research and development, employing over 300 specialists and amassing over 1,600 patent families worldwide. As a result, CATL has successfully addressed more than 100 technical challenges, establishing a comprehensive production process from materials to cells.

With production capabilities rapidly advancing, CATL aims to provide tens of thousands of tons of anode and cathode materials to meet growing demands. The evolution of the production system is expected to further reduce costs as technology matures.

CATL is actively collaborating with system integrators to build a complete circular ecosystem for sodium-ion energy storage, encompassing research and development, system supply, product testing, and commercial deployment. Significant investments have been made to expand sodium-ion production lines, including 40 GWh of annual capacity additions at their Fuding facility, with plans for 160 GWh in Jining, Shandong.

Conclusion

The launch of the TENER Sodium marks a new era in energy storage, combining sodium and lithium technologies to foster more stable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy solutions. As CATL transitions toward mass deliveries of TENER Sodium, the company's vision aligns with global energy transformation efforts, paving the way for a resilient energy future.