en.Wedoany.com Reported - Recently, Alfen, a well-known Dutch energy infrastructure company, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CATL for 5 GWh of sodium-ion battery energy storage. The two parties will deploy CATL's Tianheng sodium-ion energy storage system on a large scale in the European market. Industry analysis indicates that this marks the rapid recognition of CATL's Tianheng sodium-ion battery, released in June, by international key clients. CATL's sodium-ion technology has moved beyond the laboratory and specification sheets, achieving large-scale delivery and application as a mature, complete set of equipment.
The Tianheng sodium-ion energy storage system is a product launched by CATL's Tianheng energy storage series based on the sodium-ion battery route. Compared to the lithium-ion route, sodium-ion batteries offer advantages in safety performance, operating temperature range, and full lifecycle sustainability. They do not rely on lithium resources, and their cost structure is significantly less sensitive to lithium price fluctuations.
Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, Alfen is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and focuses on three areas: smart grids, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle charging. Leveraging its European-based engineering, R&D, and production capabilities, Alfen is a key player in Europe's energy transition. The cooperation between the two parties began with a long-term battery supply agreement reached in 2023. This new agreement extends the collaboration from lithium-ion to next-generation sodium-ion energy storage, signifying that mainstream overseas clients are beginning to substantively include sodium-ion batteries in their procurement options.
"Sodium-ion batteries represent our next step in energy storage thinking—more diversified, more resilient, and better aligned with the future direction of the market. This collaboration with CATL allows us to take a leading step, and we look forward to deepening our partnership," said Michael Colijn, CEO of Alfen.
Tan Libin, Chief Customer Officer and Co-President of Sales and Marketing at CATL, expressed delight in joining hands with key strategic partner Alfen to accelerate the deployment of next-generation energy storage technology in Europe. "With its excellent safety performance and full lifecycle sustainability advantages, sodium-ion batteries will create unique value for European customers, helping Europe move towards a cleaner and more resilient energy future."
It is understood that for Alfen, introducing sodium-ion technology helps diversify its battery material portfolio, optimize the cost structure of energy storage products, enhance resilience against lithium price volatility, and improve competitiveness in bidding for medium and large-scale projects in Europe. For CATL, jointly deploying sodium-ion projects with Alfen will help accumulate localized application experience for sodium-ion batteries in European power grids, optimize product adaptation to European grid connection standards, and accelerate the global large-scale shipment of sodium-ion energy storage.
As of now, CATL has delivered over 3,000 energy storage projects worldwide. This extensive project experience, combined with rigorous validation on empirical platforms, equips its sodium-ion battery system with a full-chain capability from technology to delivery when expanding into international markets.
