Alfen, CATL partner to deploy 5 GWh of sodium-ion storage in Europe

Dutch energy storage provider Alfen and Chinese battery manufacturer CATL have signed an agreement to deploy 5 GWh of sodium-ion battery energy storage systems across Europe.

The partnership expands an agreement first signed in 2023 covering lithium-ion technology and will integrate CATL’s sodium-ion batteries into Alfen’s stationary energy storage portfolio.

CATL said its sodium-ion cells contain no cobalt or nickel and offer capacities exceeding 300 Ah, with an energy density of about 160 Wh/kg, system efficiency of 97%, and a cycle life of more than 15,000 cycles. The batteries are designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -40 C to 70 C and are compatible with existing lithium-ion cell formats, easing integration into current storage platforms.

According to the companies, the technology is aimed primarily at stationary storage applications with discharge durations of two to eight hours.

The deployment comes as lithium iron phosphate battery prices have risen by about 20% over the past six months. CATL said sodium-ion technology could offer a 30% to 40% cost advantage over LFP batteries while helping diversify raw material supply.

From pv magazine France