CATL launches sodium-ion storage system with 30-year lifespan

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited launched its Tener sodium-ion energy storage system on Monday at a product release event in Munich, Germany, marking what the company calls a new era for grid-scale battery storage built without lithium.

The system, designed for utility-scale deployments, achieves 15,000 charge-discharge cycles at 25°C — yielding a projected service life of 25 to 30 years based on a 70% state-of-health standard. That roughly doubles the longevity of most lithium iron phosphate installations currently in operation.carnewschina+1

Technical Specifications

Each Tener module exceeds 30 MWh of rated energy capacity and weighs less than 42 tons, enabling a 1 GWh site to be assembled from just 34 modules. The system retains over 92% capacity at -20°C using what CATL calls "dipole wide-temperature technology," and supports more than 10,000 cycles at 45°C without forced cooling or additional insulation.carnewschina

Energy efficiency also received attention. CATL said it cut the system's self-consumption rate to 1%, half the industry average of 2%, through an optimized top-ventilation design and liquid cooling architecture. Noise output stands at 65 dB, roughly 10 dB lower than conventional equipment, making the system more suitable for deployment near population centers.carnewschina

Supply Chain and Commercialization

CATL said it has built a complete sodium-ion supply chain with mass production of anode and cathode materials already underway. The company is expanding manufacturing capacity with 40 GWh of production in Fuding and plans for an additional 160 GWh in Jining. In April, CATL signed a 60 GWh sodium-ion battery supply agreement with energy storage integrator HyperStrong — the largest sodium-ion order ever placed — covering a three-year partnership.electrek+2

Domestic shipments to China are scheduled to begin in September 2026, with a target of 1 GWh in deliveries by year's end. A global rollout is planned for 2027.carnewschina

Industry Context

The launch follows CATL's announcement at a May forum that it would introduce a series of mass-produced sodium-ion products in 2026 across passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, battery-swapping networks, and stationary storage. Sodium-ion chemistry relies on abundant, low-cost materials and avoids the supply-chain vulnerabilities associated with lithium, though it currently offers lower energy density. CATL's earlier sodium-ion cells have achieved up to 175 Wh/kg and passed China's latest national battery standard for EV traction applications.battery-tech+1

The Tener system is compatible with existing lithium-ion storage platforms, allowing integration without site redesigns — a feature that could accelerate adoption among operators already invested in CATL's lithium-based infrastructure.carnewschina