Full Breakdown
CATL Expands Sodium-Ion and TENER Energy Storage Portfolio in Europe and Australia
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Developments: New Deployments and Product Launches
- CATL signed a memorandum of understanding with German energy-storage provider Intilion to install 3 GWh of sodium-ion battery systems in Germany, Switzerland and Austria over five years.
- At the All Energy Australia 2026 exhibition in Melbourne, CATL unveiled the 9 MWh TENER+ ultra-high-capacity lithium-ion system and introduced the TENER Sodium solution, the first field-validated product of its kind in Australia.
- CATL also entered three Australian MOUs with Hitachi Energy, EPEC Group and the University of New South Wales to streamline grid-connection, validation and training for large-scale storage projects.
02
Background & Context
- In 2024-2025 CATL expanded its sodium-ion footprint with MOUs covering 7 GWh in Europe, establishing a supply chain for the Tener Sodium platform.
- The Tener Sodium system, first unveiled on June 22, tolerates temperatures down to -20 °C and supports frequency-regulation services on European grids.
- Europe’s battery-storage market is growing fast; SNE Research reports lithium-ion ESS shipments reached 72.7 GWh in H1 2026, a 74 % YoY increase.
- In Australia, renewable generation supplied 44.3 % of NEM output in the September 2026 quarter, while grid-scale batteries provided 8 % of evening-peak generation, overtaking gas.
Visual evidence
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03
Data & Statistics
- Europe: 3 GWh sodium-ion capacity slated under the Intilion MOU.
- Australia: TENER+ delivers 9 MWh per unit; TENER Sodium offers >30 MWh via modular cabinets.
- Cycle life & temperature tolerance:
- Tener Sodium: >15,000 cycles at -20 °C (Europe) and >10,000 cycles at 45 °C (Australia).
- Both systems are engineered for a 25-year design life.
- Market position: CATL’s global lithium-ion ESS shipments reached 125 GWh in H1 2026, an 81 % YoY rise, giving it a 27.1 % market share (SNE Research).
- Project portfolio: Over 3,000 ESS projects worldwide; installed capacity in Australia exceeds 17 GWh.
04
Official Statements & Responses
- CATL said the Tener Sodium platform is built for Europe’s harsh winter climate and can provide stable frequency-regulation support.
- Zane Zhou, General Manager of CATL Australia and New Zealand, emphasized that offering both sodium-ion and lithium-ion chemistries gives developers flexibility for long-duration storage in the NEM.
- CATL noted the TENER+ architecture reduces container requirements by up to 40 % and shrinks project footprints by 12 %, lowering land-use pressures.
05
Why It Matters
- Sodium-ion chemistry offers a lower-cost, geographically abundant alternative to lithium, reducing exposure to lithium-price volatility.
- Modular, high-temperature-tolerant designs address climate challenges in both Europe and Australia, facilitating reliable, long-duration storage.
- Smaller footprints can lower capital expenditures and accelerate rollout of storage needed to integrate higher shares of renewable generation.
06
What’s Next
- The Intilion partnership will roll out the 3 GWh sodium-ion capacity across the three European markets within five years.
- In Australia, the three MOUs will support joint validation of battery systems, integrated DC-side and power-conversion solutions, and the establishment of a renewable-energy training and innovation centre in Western Sydney; implementation timelines will be defined by the participating parties.