CATL to bring sodium battery storage to Europe with 5 GWh Alfen deal You Should Know
- CATL and Europe’s Alfen plan to deploy 5 GWh of sodium-ion battery energy storage systems in Western Europe starting in 2027.
- The agreement marks the first planned deployments of the Tener Sodium energy storage system in the European market.
CATL (HKEX: 3750) is bringing its sodium-ion battery energy storage system to Europe, less than 1 month after the product’s global debut.
The world’s largest battery maker has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alfen NV, a leading European renewable energy integrator, to deploy 5 GWh of Tener Sodium energy storage systems in the Netherlands and other Western European countries starting in 2027.
The agreement marks the first planned deployments of the system in the European market, CATL said in a statement on Thursday.
The Tener Sodium energy storage system has a lifespan of 25 years and offers a nearly 2% improvement in round-trip efficiency, or RTE, helping lower costs over its full life cycle, CATL said.
The system is also compatible with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) systems. CATL said this gives Alfen greater flexibility in choosing battery chemistries and reduces its exposure to fluctuations in lithium prices.
CATL said it plans to use the partnership to build localized experience in applying sodium-ion batteries to European power grids and improve the product’s compatibility with European grid standards.
The company aims to accelerate the large-scale adoption of sodium-ion energy storage technology in Europe and support the region’s transition toward a zero-carbon and more diversified energy system.
CATL unveiled the Tener Sodium energy storage system on June 22, describing it as 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 durations ranging from 1 to 8 hours, allowing configurations to be tailored to individual project requirements.
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 2027.
The Alfen partnership is the latest step in the rapid expansion of CATL’s sodium-ion battery business.
In April, the company signed a record 3-year supply agreement with Chinese energy storage system provider HyperStrong covering a total capacity of 60 GWh.
To support demand, CATL subsequently announced an investment of 5 billion yuan ($739 million) to build 40 GWh of sodium-ion battery production capacity in Fujian province.
($1 = 6.7688 yuan)
