CATL's ESS battery lasts 25 years in fewer containers to reduce land use

CATL has unveiled the Tener+, its next-generation energy storage system (ESS) featuring lithium batteries capable of lasting 25 years without significant capacity degradation. At the All Energy Australia 2026 exhibition in Melbourne, CATL explained that the ESS delivers 9 MWh of capacity per container and is designed for long-term grid projects, with energy density as its primary selling point.

The Tener+ ESS can reduce the number of containers required for a project by up to 40 percent compared to conventional solutions, significantly decreasing the total land footprint. Fewer containers mean less land, less cabling, and a simpler installation process, a critical advantage when developers are building at GWh scale.

Longevity is another standout feature, as CATL announces a 25-year design life, based on proprietary technology cells manufactured to slow degradation. Buyers can choose, for example, between cell configurations optimized for the high temperatures of the desert or one that promises three years without degradation, as the no-degradation option is not available in all configurations of the Tener+.

CATL’s ESS designed for high ambient temperatures, such as those at desert facilities, features a superior exhaust design that directs hot air upward and away from nearby equipment. This ensures that power conversion systems maintain their factory nominal output power even during extreme summers. An intelligent thermal management system further improves full-cycle efficiency and reduces auxiliary energy consumption. Multiple units can also be commissioned simultaneously with a single click.

The Tener+ succeeds the 6.25 MWh Tener from April 2024 and the 9 MWh Tener Stack from May 2025. CATL also showcased the Tener Sodium in Australia for the first time, an ESS featuring sodium-ion batteries that delivers over 30 MWh of grid-scale capacity and is designed to withstand high ambient temperatures of up to 55°C (131°F), such as those experienced in local desert regions.

In Australia, CATL’s energy storage projects have already surpassed 17 GWh of installed capacity. The world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer also leads the global ESS market with a 27% share and is clearly striving to maintain its advantage over rivals like BYD through systems such as the Tener+, which occupy significantly less space and offer an industry-leading warranty. ESS projects concerned about excessive reliance on Chinese technology would now have a quarter of a century to address their diversification before CATL’s cells reach their degradation threshold.