CATL Launches World's First Sodium-Ion Storage System: 15,000 Cycles, 30-Year Durability

Image Credits- CATL

On June 22, 2026, in Munich, Germany, CATL officially launched the TENER Sodium Energy Storage System—the world's first real-world validated sodium-ion battery energy storage solution (BESS). The event marked a major milestone in making sodium-ion technology commercially viable at scale.

The TENER Sodium system delivers over 30 MWh of rated capacity using a fully modular architecture. Each module weighs about 42 tonnes, meaning a 1 GWh site can be built with just 34 units. The design offers flexible storage durations from 1 to 8 hours and allows faulty modules to be swapped independently, cutting maintenance costs and improving uptime.

Key technical breakthroughs include a 15,000-cycle lifespan at 25°C, translating to 25–30 years of service life. The system performs reliably across extreme temperatures, retaining over 92% capacity at -20°C and operating safely at 45°C without extra cooling. Safety is significantly enhanced: thermal runaway surface temperatures are roughly 60% lower than lithium-ion batteries, and the system is fire- and explosion-proof even under extreme conditions.

CATL also optimized operational efficiency. A proprietary bidirectional voltage control system improves round-trip efficiency by nearly 2%, while a top-ventilation design and liquid cooling cut auxiliary power consumption from the industry average of 2% down to 1%. At just 65 decibels, the system runs 10 dB quieter than conventional equipment, making it more suitable for deployment near communities.

The TENER Sodium system is fully compatible with existing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) platforms, allowing customers to switch between sodium and lithium chemistries without redesigning enclosures or repeating certifications. This flexibility helps manage lithium price volatility while leveraging sodium's abundance—sodium is over 1,000 times more plentiful than lithium and widely distributed across all continents.

CATL has invested nearly €1.2 billion in sodium-ion R&D since 2016, building 40 GWh of production capacity in Fuding with plans for an additional 160 GWh in Jining. Domestic deliveries in China begin this September, with cumulative shipments targeting 1 GWh by year-end. Global deliveries are scheduled to start in June 2027.

With the TENER Sodium launch, CATL is positioning sodium and lithium as the "twin foundations" of future energy storage—offering a more stable, cost-effective, and sustainable path forward for the global grid.

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