CATL Launches Tener Sodium-Ion Energy Storage System

CATL introduced the Tener Sodium-Ion energy storage system, which features a lifespan of up to 15,000 cycles and a durability of up to 30 years, at a product launch event in Munich, Germany, on Monday (22/6). According to a CarNewsChina report on Monday, the energy storage system developed by the Chinese battery manufacturer has a fully modular architecture with a rated energy capacity exceeding 30 MWh. Each module weighs less than 42 tonnes, enabling the construction of a 1 GWh storage facility using 34 modules. CATL stated the Tener Sodium-Ion’s lifespan reaches 15,000 cycles at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. The system is claimed to be operational for 25 to 30 years based on a 70 per cent State of Health (SOH) standard. The company said this energy storage system has a wide temperature adaptation range. The dipole wide-temperature technology allows the system to retain more than 92 per cent capacity at minus 20 degrees Celsius. The Tener Sodium-Ion system can withstand more than 10,000 cycles at 45 degrees Celsius without requiring additional insulation or forced cooling. The company claims the system can reduce cell expansion force by up to 40 per cent, reduce gas generation by 35 per cent, and maintain a thermal runaway surface temperature of around 200 degrees Celsius, approximately 60 per cent lower than lithium-ion batteries. The Tener Sodium-Ion is designed to resist fire and explosion risks under extreme conditions. An optimised top-vent design and a high-performance liquid cooling system can reduce internal power consumption from two per cent to one per cent. Additionally, the Tener Sodium-Ion system operates at a noise level of 65 decibels, or 10 decibels lower than traditional equipment. CATL’s new energy storage system is also claimed to have self-recovery capability within milliseconds, able to isolate faults and restore power to unaffected areas in approximately 350 milliseconds. The Tener system is designed to be compatible with existing lithium-ion energy storage platforms, allowing integration without redesign. The company has built a sodium-ion battery supply chain and possesses the capability to mass-produce both anode and cathode materials. CATL has scheduled the first deliveries of the Tener Sodium-Ion system in the Chinese market for September 2026, with a delivery target of 1 GWh by the end of the year. The company plans to market the energy storage system to the global market in 2027.