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Deep diveENERGY

[Energy]+[Progress]: GridSodium Solid-State Sodium-Ion Battery Storage Station Goes Live in Changzhou

CATL commissioned the world's first 100 MWh-class solid-state sodium-ion battery energy storage station, GridSodium, in Changzhou, Jiangsu, marking sodium-ion batteries' transition from consumer electronics to grid-scale energy storage.

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The geopolitical risks and price volatility of lithium resources have long been a hidden concern for the energy storage industry. Sodium, the sixth most abundant element in the Earth's crust, is widely distributed and inexpensive, making it an ideal alternative for large-scale energy storage. In May 2030, CATL's GridSodium energy storage station in Changzhou, Jiangsu, represents the first commercial application of sodium-ion batteries in grid-scale energy storage.

GridSodium has an installed capacity of 100 MWh, using CATL's second-generation solid-state sodium-ion batteries with an energy density of 200 Wh/kg—a 40% improvement over the first generation. The batteries use Prussian blue cathode material and hard carbon anodes, containing no cobalt, nickel, or other scarce metals.

CATL Chairman Robin Zeng said: "GridSodium's levelized cost of storage is 0.15 RMB per kWh, 60% that of lithium-ion battery storage. For grid storage scenarios with one charge-discharge cycle per day, sodium-ion batteries have a clear economic advantage over their full lifecycle."

On safety, the solid-state sodium-ion batteries passed all safety tests—nail penetration, overcharge, short circuit, and high temperature—without thermal runaway. CATL stated that sodium-ion batteries have superior thermal stability to lithium-ion batteries and will not catch fire or explode under extreme conditions.

However, sodium-ion batteries' energy density remains lower than lithium iron phosphate batteries (approximately 180 Wh/kg versus 200 Wh/kg), and their cycle life in large-scale validation still needs time to verify. GridSodium's first-year operational data will be published in mid-2031.

An IEA energy storage analyst said: "Sodium-ion batteries have tremendous cost advantages in grid energy storage, especially in price-sensitive markets like China and India. CATL's GridSodium project is a major milestone in the commercialization of sodium-ion technology."