The global energy sector stands on the threshold of a massive transformation. Chinese battery production leader Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and Dutch integrator Alfen N.V. have announced a strategic partnership that could reshape the energy storage landscape in Western Europe. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding providing for the deployment of energy storage systems (BESS) with a total capacity of 5 GWh.

At the core of this ambitious project is Tener Sodium technology — sodium-ion storage units designed to become a powerful alternative to dominant lithium-ion solutions. The first commercial deliveries of equipment under the agreement are scheduled for June 2027.

Technological breakthrough: Tener Sodium specifications

The Tener Sodium system was officially presented by CATL in Munich on June 22, 2026. The technical parameters of the new development demonstrate a significant step forward compared to existing industry standards. The key advantages of the technology are as follows:

  • Resource and durability: The declared service life of the cells is from 25 to 30 years. This is equivalent to 15,000 working cycles while maintaining a residual capacity of at least 70%.
  • Energy efficiency: The round-trip efficiency has increased by almost 2%. At the same time, the system's own energy consumption has been reduced to 1%, which is twice as low as the market average.
  • Voltage stability: The bidirectional control system ensures a stable output level of 690 V.
  • Safety: The design reduces cell expansion force by 40% and gas generation by 35%. The thermal runaway temperature reaches about 200°C, which significantly improves operational safety.
  • Climatic adaptability: Thanks to the wide-temperature dipole technology, the batteries retain more than 92% capacity even at temperatures down to -20°C.

Raw material economics: moving away from lithium dependence

The strategic significance of the partnership goes beyond purely technical characteristics. Alfen's diversification of its technology portfolio is driven by the desire to minimize risks associated with lithium price volatility. Unlike lithium, sodium is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust — there is approximately 1000 times more of it.

This makes the raw material base for sodium-ion batteries significantly more stable and economically predictable in the long term. According to Alfen management, the integration of Tener Sodium will allow for cost optimization and increased supply chain resilience, neutralizing the impact of price fluctuations in rare earth metals.

Global strategy and CATL plans

For CATL, this partnership is part of a strategy to adapt sodium-ion batteries to the strict grid standards of the European Union and accelerate the decarbonization of the regional energy system. The company has already started internal deliveries of systems in China in September 2026, and the total volume of shipments to the domestic market by the end of the current year is expected to reach 1 GWh.

The transition to industrial-scale sodium-ion storage marks the formation of a two-component raw material model in the global energy storage industry. This solution is designed to reduce developers' capital expenditures and ensure energy independence from bottlenecks in the supply of critical resources.