MELBOURNE – October 29, 2026 -- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) launched TENER+, a 9MWh ultra-high capacity energy storage system, at All Energy Australia 2026 and signed three memorandums of understanding with Hitachi Energy, EPEC Group and UNSW Sydney to speed up utility-scale battery delivery and grid connection in Australia.
TENER+ cuts container count by up to 40% and footprint by 12%
CATL says TENER+ reduces the number of containers needed by up to 40% and the project footprint by 12%, which targets developers facing land constraints. The system is designed for a 25-year lifespan and uses liquid cooling with protection for humid and coastal environments. Noise stays below 65 dBA at 1 metre.
A top-exhaust design directs hot air vertically upwards, away from adjacent units. According to CATL, this lets neighbouring power conversion system (PCS) units run at full rated power in extreme summer conditions. Multiple TENER+ batteries can be commissioned simultaneously with a single click.
TENER Sodium delivers 95% round-trip efficiency and 10,000+ cycles at 45°C
CATL also showcased TENER Sodium, which it describes as the world's first mass-produced, field-validated sodium-ion battery energy storage system. It delivers more than 30MWh through a modular cabinet architecture and operates at temperatures of up to 55°C. The company cites more than 10,000 cycles at 45°C and an operating lifespan above 20 years.
Offering lithium-ion and sodium-ion options gives developers a choice of chemistry. CATL positions sodium, which is more abundant and geographically widespread than lithium, as an additional pathway for battery supply chains.
"A battery's value is measured over the entire lifespan of a project and not just on the day it's commissioned," said Zane Zhou, General Manager of CATL Australia and New Zealand.
Batteries overtook gas in evening peak supply as renewables hit 44.3% of the NEM
Renewables supplied a record 44.3% of National Electricity Market generation in the September quarter of 2026, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). Grid-scale batteries supplied 8% of evening peak generation, overtaking gas-powered generation for the first time. As coal-fired stations retire, the grid needs storage with grid-forming capability to provide voltage and frequency support.
Three MoUs target integration risk, validation and skills
CATL's DC battery products and Hitachi Energy's power conversion systems will form the basis of a proposed integrated offering for Australia and the Asia Pacific region. The partners aim to improve compatibility, standardise project delivery and reduce integration risk.
CATL will work with EPEC Group and the Xiamen Energy Storage Validation Research Institute (ESVL), combining its storage technology with EPEC's grid integration and engineering delivery expertise and ESVL's full-scale system validation. The parties aim to accelerate bankable, grid-compliant projects.
CATL and UNSW Sydney will jointly develop the Centre for Integrated Renewable Energy Training and Innovation in Western Sydney, NSW.
Birdwood Energy picks CATL for 400MW/1,860MWh Victorian battery
The MoUs build on existing work with Australian customers. Birdwood Energy selected CATL as technology partner for the Baranduda Electrical Energy Reserve, a 400MW/1,860MWh battery near Wodonga in Victoria.
CATL led global energy storage battery shipments for a fifth consecutive year with a 30.4% market share in 2025, according to SNE Research. The company reports more than 3,000 energy storage projects worldwide and over 17GWh of installed project capacity in Australia.