CATL has signed a 2 GWh Tener Sodium energy storage cooperation agreement with Solarpro, an Eastern European renewable energy company. Credit: CATL
- The agreement marks CATL’s second sodium-ion energy storage order in Europe this month.
- CATL and Solarpro plan to deploy central and eastern Europe’s first large-scale sodium-ion energy storage project this year.
CATL (HKEX: 3750) is accelerating the roll-out of its sodium-ion energy storage technology in Europe with another major order.
The world’s largest battery manufacturer has signed a cooperation agreement with eastern European renewable energy company Solarpro for 2 GWh of Tener Sodium energy storage systems, according to a statement on Tuesday.
The companies plan to jointly deploy central and eastern Europe’s first large-scale sodium-ion energy storage project this year, accelerating the broader adoption of next-generation energy storage technology across Europe, CATL said.
The deal marks CATL’s second sodium-ion energy storage order in Europe this month. Last week, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with European new-energy integrator Alfen NV to deploy 5 GWh of sodium-ion energy storage systems in western Europe starting in 2027.
The Tener Sodium system has a cycle life of as many as 15,000 cycles and can operate reliably for 25 to 30 years, CATL said.
The system retains 92% of its capacity at temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, allowing it to withstand winter temperatures of minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius in eastern European countries such as Lithuania.
CATL’s partnership with Solarpro began in 2024, when the companies deployed a 150 MWh EnerC+ liquid-cooled energy storage system in Bulgaria.
In May this year, a 602 MWh Tener lithium-ion energy storage system jointly developed by the companies was connected to Bulgaria’s power grid, increasing the country’s total energy storage capacity by 10%.
CATL unveiled the Tener Sodium energy storage system on June 22, calling it the world’s first field-validated sodium-ion battery energy storage solution.
The system has a rated capacity of more than 30 MWh and supports energy storage applications lasting 1 to 8 hours. It is compatible with the dimensions of lithium-ion battery systems, enabling seamless switching between the 2 technologies.
CATL plans to begin initial deliveries in China in September and expects shipments to reach 1 GWh by the end of 2026. Global commercial deliveries are scheduled to begin in June next year.
Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a new growth driver for CATL. In April, the company signed a 3-year supply agreement with Chinese energy storage system provider HyperStrong covering a total capacity of 60 GWh, setting an industry record.
To support demand, CATL subsequently announced an investment of 5 billion yuan ($736 million) to build 40 GWh of new sodium-ion battery production capacity in Fujian province.
CATL founder and chairman Robin Zeng has previously said that low-cost sodium-ion batteries could eventually replace 30% to 40% of the existing battery market.
A CATL executive said 10,000 to 20,000 EVs are expected to carry the company’s sodium-ion batteries this year.
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