CATL launches TENER Sodium — first field‑validated sodium‑ion BESS
- CATL targets cumulative sodium‑ion shipments of 1 GWh by end‑2026, with international deliveries starting June 2027.
- TENER Sodium uses >30 MWh modular units; ~34 modules equal a 1 GWh site, each module ~42 tonnes, and energy/power blocks are decoupled for 1–8 hour durations.
- CATL has invested nearly €1.2 billion in sodium‑ion R&D since 2016, holds over 1,600 patent families, and says mass‑production lines are operational.
- Capacity build‑out includes RMB 5 billion to add 40 GWh at Fuding and a planned 160 GWh at Jining; CATL and HyperStrong signed a 60 GWh, three‑year sodium‑ion order in April 2026.
Product and platform
TENER Sodium is a station‑level sodium‑ion energy storage solution built on a fully modular architecture delivering more than 30 MWh of rated capacity per module. The design requires roughly 34 units for a 1 GWh site, each module weighing about 42 tonnes. Energy and power blocks are decoupled to support configurable durations of 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. The system shares the same physical footprint as LFP systems, can accommodate either chemistry without enclosure changes, and reserves an upgrade path to 2000V high‑voltage architectures.
System engineering advantages
CATL developed a bidirectional (Bi‑DC) voltage regulation system to address sodium‑ion's wide voltage range, improving round‑trip efficiency by nearly 2% and ensuring compatibility with major PCS products. A sodium‑specific BMS leverages the chemistry's sloping voltage curve for more accurate SOC estimation and offers about 20% greater overcharge SOC tolerance versus lithium‑ion. Thermal design — a top‑discharge airflow plus liquid cooling — reduces system heat generation by nearly 30% and cuts auxiliary consumption from ~2% to 1%. The station runs at ~65 dB, enabling closer siting to load centres.
Supply chain, manufacturing and timeline
CATL has pursued sodium‑ion R&D since 2016, investing nearly €1.2 billion, engaging over 300 R&D staff, and accumulating more than 1,600 patent families. It reports end‑to‑end manufacturing capability with tens of thousands of tonnes of anode and cathode material capacity. Investment includes RMB 5 billion to expand sodium‑ion lines at Fuding (adding 40 GWh) and a planned 160 GWh at Jining. CATL says mass‑production lines are commissioned and ready to support deployment.
Commercialisation and contracts
CATL will begin delivering sodium‑ion systems in China this September and expects cumulative shipments to reach 1 GWh by the end of 2026; international deliveries are scheduled from June 2027. In April 2026 CATL and HyperStrong signed a three‑year, 60 GWh sodium‑ion supply contract, signalling entry to GWh‑scale commercial deployment.
Source: CATL