CATL has unveiled the TENER Sodium Energy Storage System, describing it as the world’s first real-world validated sodium-ion energy storage solution ready for commercial deployment.
Launched in Munich, Germany, on June 22, 2026, TENER Sodium is designed to bring sodium-ion battery technology into large-scale energy storage projects. CATL expects cumulative shipments to reach 1 GWh by the end of 2026, while international deliveries are scheduled to begin in June 2027.
The launch comes as grid operators face growing demand for long-duration storage, driven by higher renewable-energy penetration and rising electricity consumption from AI data centers and other power-intensive industries.
Sodium-Ion Batteries Target Supply Chain Risks
Lithium-ion batteries remain the dominant technology in energy storage, but their supply chain is exposed to material price volatility and geographically concentrated resources. CATL sees sodium-ion batteries as a complementary solution, using a material that is far more abundant and more widely distributed globally than lithium.
Sodium-ion chemistry also offers potential advantages in extreme temperatures, safety and long-term cost stability. CATL expects sodium and lithium to become the two key battery chemistries supporting future energy storage infrastructure.
“TENER Sodium” is based on CATL’s latest sodium-ion technology and provides more than 30 MWh of rated capacity in a modular architecture.
Modular Design Supports 1 GWh Energy Storage Projects
The system is designed to simplify deployment at utility-scale sites. Each module weighs approximately 42 tonnes, with only 34 units needed for a 1 GWh project.
CATL says the platform separates energy and power blocks, enabling storage durations of one, two, four, six or eight hours depending on project requirements. The modular setup also allows individual faulty units to be isolated and replaced, reducing maintenance costs and improving system availability.
TENER Sodium is compatible with CATL’s LFP-based energy storage systems and uses the same physical footprint. This allows developers to choose between sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries without changing enclosures, redesigning the site or repeating certification processes.
The platform is also designed with a future upgrade path to 2,000V high-voltage architectures.
CATL Develops Dedicated Sodium-Ion Battery Management Technology
CATL has developed several system-level technologies specifically for sodium-ion energy storage.
A dedicated bidirectional DC voltage regulation system is designed to manage the wider voltage range of sodium-ion batteries. CATL says the system can improve round-trip efficiency by nearly 2% by maintaining optimal PCS output across the battery’s operating range.
The company has also developed a dedicated battery management system that uses sodium-ion batteries’ sloping voltage curve to improve state-of-charge estimation. CATL says sodium-ion cells offer 20% greater overcharge state-of-charge tolerance than lithium-ion batteries, providing additional operational flexibility.
TENER Sodium also uses a top-discharge airflow design intended to reduce thermal-island effects. Combined with liquid cooling, CATL says the system cuts auxiliary power consumption from an industry average of around 2% to 1%.
Noise output is rated at 65 decibels, approximately 10 decibels lower than conventional systems. Lower noise levels could make it easier to install battery storage projects closer to load centers, potentially reducing transmission and distribution costs.
CATL Expands Sodium-Ion Manufacturing Capacity
CATL has been developing sodium-ion battery technology since 2016 and says it has invested nearly €1.2 billion in the chemistry over the past decade.
The company reports that more than 300 research and development specialists have worked on sodium-ion batteries, resulting in more than 1,600 patent families and over 200 granted patents globally.
CATL has also expanded its manufacturing footprint for sodium-ion batteries. The company has invested RMB 5 billion in sodium-ion production lines at its Fuding facility, adding 40 GWh of annual capacity. Its Jining facility in Shandong is planned to support 160 GWh of sodium-ion production capacity.
CATL says its mass-production lines are now fully operational and capable of supporting large-scale deployment.
The company will begin delivering its first sodium-ion energy storage systems in China in September 2026. Global deliveries are set to follow in June 2027.
In April 2026, CATL and HyperStrong signed a three-year, 60 GWh sodium-ion energy storage agreement, which CATL described as the world’s largest commercial sodium-ion energy storage contract.
A New Role for Sodium-Ion Energy Storage
CATL’s TENER Sodium launch signals that sodium-ion batteries are moving beyond pilot projects and toward commercial grid-scale deployment.
By combining sodium-ion and lithium-ion technologies on a shared platform, CATL aims to give developers more flexibility in managing battery supply, cost volatility and project requirements.
As renewable generation expands and electricity grids require more flexible capacity, sodium-ion systems could become an increasingly important part of next-generation energy storage infrastructure.
