Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world’s leading battery manufacturer, is intensifying its focus on sodium-ion batteries through its new TENER storage system, with domestic shipments beginning this September and international delivery expected in 2027. This move highlights CATL’s strategic pivot away from electric vehicle (EV) batteries to energy storage solutions amid growing volatility in the lithium market.
Over the past five years, CATL’s revenue share from battery storage has surged from a minor fraction to one quarter of total sales. The company projects this to climb to half of its revenues by 2030. This shift corresponds with rising global demand for grid-scale battery storage as power grids contend with increased pressure from data centers and renewable energy integration.
China dominates global energy storage growth, having installed more battery storage capacity in 2025 than the US and EU combined. This expansion raises questions over Western dependence on Chinese battery technologies and CATL’s close links to Chinese military interests. Meanwhile, American manufacturers like General Motors emphasize the need for domestic energy storage production to support national energy resilience, underscoring competitive tensions in this critical sector.
Industry observers note that while lithium-ion batteries currently dominate energy storage applications, supply chain volatility and raw material concerns make alternatives like sodium-ion batteries increasingly attractive. Sodium, being more abundant and less expensive than lithium, offers the potential for more stable pricing and supply security. CATL’s commitment to commercializing sodium-ion systems marks an important innovation milestone in the battery storage market, potentially influencing global supply dynamics.
Energy think tanks describe grid-scale battery storage as essential infrastructure for stabilizing power delivery and enabling higher shares of intermittent renewables. As hyperscale data centers drive unprecedented electricity demand, scalable and flexible energy storage solutions gain urgency worldwide.
CATL’s deployment plans for the TENER sodium-ion system reflect a broader industry trend to diversify battery chemistries beyond lithium-ion. If successful, sodium-ion batteries could alleviate some pressures on lithium supplies and reduce costs for large-scale storage projects, potentially reshaping energy storage technology landscapes over the coming decade.