CATL and Alfen N.V. have expanded their strategic collaboration to deploy 5 GWh of CATL's TENER sodium-ion battery energy storage systems across Western Europe, including the Netherlands. The partnership marks the first commercial deployment of CATL's TENER Sodium technology in Europe, supporting grid flexibility, battery diversification, and broader adoption of sodium-ion energy storage.
CATL and Dutch energy storage solutions provider Alfen N.V. have announced an expanded strategic collaboration to deploy 5 GWh of CATL's TENER sodium-ion battery energy storage systems across Western Europe, including the Netherlands. The agreement represents the first commercial deployment of CATL's TENER Sodium technology in the European energy storage market and supports the region's transition toward diversified battery technologies.
The deployment will introduce CATL's sodium-ion battery energy storage systems into utility-scale applications across multiple Western European countries. The partnership is expected to strengthen grid flexibility while providing developers and utilities with an alternative battery chemistry alongside conventional lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technologies.
CATL stated that its TENER Sodium energy storage system is designed with a service life of up to 25 years, helping reduce long-term replacement requirements and lifecycle costs. The company also said the system delivers an overall round-trip efficiency (RTE) improvement of nearly 2%, contributing to improved operational performance and a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for energy storage projects.
A key advantage of the technology is its compatibility with lithium iron phosphate battery systems. This enables Alfen to diversify battery chemistry options within its energy storage portfolio while reducing exposure to fluctuations in lithium raw material prices. The ability to integrate sodium-ion and LFP technologies also offers greater flexibility when designing future battery storage projects for different operating requirements.
For CATL, the collaboration provides an opportunity to gain localized operational experience with its sodium-ion technology under European grid conditions. The company plans to use the deployment to further optimize the compatibility of TENER Sodium systems with European grid standards and technical requirements.
The project also represents an important milestone in the commercialization of sodium-ion battery technology outside China. As utilities and energy storage developers seek alternatives that improve supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on lithium-based chemistries, sodium-ion batteries are attracting growing interest for stationary energy storage applications due to their material availability and long service life.
Through the 5 GWh deployment, CATL and Alfen aim to accelerate the large-scale adoption of sodium-ion battery energy storage across Europe while supporting renewable energy integration, grid reliability, and the continued evolution of advanced battery technologies for stationary storage applications.