China's Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dutch grid-integration specialist Alfen NV to deploy 5 GWh of Tener Sodium energy-storage systems in the Netherlands and other Western European countries starting in 2027 — the first European rollout of CATL's newly launched sodium-ion battery platform.
First European field for Tener Sodium
Unveiled in Ningde on June 22, Tener Sodium is what CATL calls the world's first field-validated sodium-ion battery energy-storage system. Each unit has a rated capacity of more than 30 MWh, a 25-year design life, and roughly a 2% higher round-trip efficiency than incumbent LFP storage. Because the modules are drop-in compatible with LFP systems, Alfen can mix chemistries in projects and hedge lithium-price swings.
Localising for European grid codes
CATL said the Alfen partnership will let it build localised operations experience — voltage handling, curtailment response, storage-duration flexibility — for European grid standards, then push the technology to more integrators. Tener Sodium supports storage durations from one to eight hours. Initial deliveries begin in China in September, with roughly 1 GWh shipping by year-end. Global commercial deliveries start in June 2027.
Sodium-ion ramp accelerates
The Alfen MOU follows a record 60 GWh, 3-year sodium supply pact CATL signed with HyperStrong in April and a 5 billion yuan investment to stand up 40 GWh of sodium-ion capacity in Fujian. Related: Huawei's LUTERRA grid-forming ESS and Giga Storage's €450M Europe close.
Reporting based on coverage from CATL, Alfen NV, CnEVPost and Bloomberg.