CATL agreed to supply 60 gigawatt-hours of sodium-ion batteries for an energy-storage project in Ningde, Fujian, marking a major commercial win for the chemistry in grid use.
Sodium batteries are gaining traction in stationary storage because their cheaper, easier-to-source materials matter more than energy density, while space and weight matter less than in electric vehicles.
The deal targets a fast-growing market for storing solar and other renewable power; California showed that demand in 2024 when batteries briefly became the state grid’s biggest power source after sunset.
Sodium-ion still trails lithium-ion in vehicles by about 30% on energy density, but analysts expect it to broaden battery supply chains and take a meaningful share alongside lithium by 2035.
Is abundant sodium the key to breaking lithium's dominance and securing energy independence?
Will solid-state technology make today’s top-tier electric vehicles obsolete by 2030?
Could flying taxis, not cars, be the key to making next-gen batteries affordable for everyone?
CATL and HyperStrong’s 60 GWh Sodium-Ion Battery Pact Signals New Era for Grid Storage and EVs
Overview
On April 27, 2026, CATL and Beijing HyperStrong Technology signed a landmark agreement for the supply of 60 GWh of sodium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) batteries—the largest deal of its kind to date. This agreement marks a decisive shift as major players like CATL move beyond traditional lithium-ion chemistries, aiming to secure a leading position in next-generation energy storage. The scale of this deal signals a new era of rapid industrial expansion for sodium-ion technology worldwide, highlighting its growing importance and the industry's commitment to diversifying energy storage solutions.