Image: CATL
CATL officially unveiled the TENER Sodium Energy Storage System, the world's first real-world validated sodium-ion energy storage solution in Munich, Germany. The solution has reached full commercial maturity across technology, production capacity, and supply chain readiness. Cumulative shipments are expected to reach 1 GWh by the end of 2026, with global deliveries to begin in June 2027.
As the share of renewable energy continues to rise and AI-driven power demand surges, energy storage is moving from a supporting role to critical infrastructure for the global energy system.
However, conventional energy storage has relied heavily on lithium-based systems, whose concentrated supply and volatile prices pose growing supply chain risks. Sodium—over 1,000 times more abundant than lithium and widely distributed—offers better extreme-temperature performance, safety, and cost potential, making a technology transition in energy storage inevitable.
In addition, the TENER Sodium system is compatible with LFP systems and shares the same physical footprint. The same platform can accommodate either sodium-ion or lithium-ion batteries without changing enclosures, redesigning projects, or repeating certification processes.
This flexibility to switch seamlessly between sodium-ion and lithium-ion technologies provides customers with a practical solution for managing lithium price volatility. Looking ahead, the TENER Sodium system also reserves an upgrade path to 2000V high-voltage architectures, enabling it to adapt to evolving technology routes.
Source: Financial Times
Image: CATL