CATL Secures First European Order for Sodium ESS Just a Month After Launch

China's CATL has secured its first European order for sodium-ion battery-based energy storage systems (ESS) just one month after launching the 'Tener' sodium ESS. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Alpen, a European renewable energy integrator, to build a 5GWh sodium ESS across Western Europe starting next year. The Tener system offers 30MWh capacity with 1-8 hours of power storage, a 25-year lifespan, and maintains 92% capacity at sub-zero temperatures. CATL aims to supply the system in China by September and expects 1GWh shipments by year-end, with global distribution starting in June 2024. The company projects sodium batteries could replace 30-40% of existing battery markets due to cost advantages.