CATL Signs 5 GWh Sodium-Ion Storage Deal With Alfen — First Na-Ion BESS Deployment in Europe

CATL signed a memorandum of understanding on July 16, 2026 with Dutch energy solutions provider Alfen N.V. to supply 5 GWh of its TENER Sodium energy storage system to western European countries, including the Netherlands, from 2027 — the first planned deployment of sodium-ion battery storage in the European market. The TENER Sodium system is rated above 30 MWh per unit, supports 1–8 hour storage durations, carries a 25-year design life, and offers roughly 2 percentage points better round-trip efficiency than CATL's lithium-ion equivalent. The deal extends a CATL-Alfen partnership that began in 2023 around lithium-ion supply, and is intended to help Alfen diversify its battery material mix and reduce exposure to lithium price volatility.