Chinese battery company CATL has announced the entry into the commercialization phase of next-generation energy storage technology by unveiling a sodium-ion-based energy storage system (BESS). There is a growing trend of attention on sodium-based storage technology as an alternative to move away from lithium-centric structures.

CATL announced on the 24th that it unveiled its sodium ion energy storage system, 'TENER Sodium,' in Munich, Germany. The system was developed in a form verified in real-world applications, and global deliveries are scheduled to begin in June 2027.

TENER Sodium is a large-scale energy storage system based on sodium-ion batteries. An Energy Storage System (BESS) refers to a facility that stores electricity to regulate the imbalance between power production and demand.

This system is designed with a modular structure having a total capacity of over 30 MWh. It is approximately 42 tons per single module, and 34 modules are used in a 1GWh-class facility.

Key features include: a structure with separate energy and power blocks allowing for adjustable storage time from 1 to 8 hours; a structure that improves maintenance efficiency through the separation and replacement of defective modules; improved output stability and efficiency through a dedicated voltage regulation system; enhanced accuracy in charge state management through a battery management system (BMS); reduced heat generation and auxiliary power consumption through airflow design and liquid cooling; and a low noise design of 65 decibels.

In addition, it was presented as a feature that it is designed to enable switching between battery types by maintaining the same installation structure as lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based systems.

Sodium-ion batteries are cited as an alternative in terms of supply chain stability due to their abundant resources and wide regional distribution compared to lithium. CATL has been developing related technology since 2016 and is reported to have invested approximately 1.2 billion euros.

CATL announced that it has established a manufacturing system extending from materials to cell production and has secured an annual production capacity of 40 GWh. Additionally, it is planning production facilities with a capacity of 160 GWh.

In terms of business, the first supply is scheduled to begin in China this September, and cumulative shipments are expected to reach 1 GWh by the end of 2026. It was explained that a three-year supply contract worth 60 GWh was signed with HyperStrong in April 2026.

William Wu, Director of CATL’s Energy Storage Technology Center, said, “Sodium and lithium will be the foundation of future energy storage systems.”