World’s biggest battery maker unveils higher density, “nil degradation” battery packs for grid storage

Chinese battery giant CATL, supplier to some of Australia’s biggest grid-scale project developers, has unveiled a new containerised battery energy storage system promising a one-third increase in energy density, a 20% reduction in overall footprint and a longer service life.

Stored in a 20-foot TEU container, the mass producible Tener has a 6.25 MWh capacity which CATL says represents a 30% increase in energy density per unit area and a 20% reduction in the overall project footprint.

The new battery also claims to provide zero degradation of capacity over the first five years of use, “a significant advancement”, which CATL says increase the lifespan of batteries.

“Tener is equipped with long service life and zero-degradation cells tailored for energy storage applications, achieving an energy density of 430 Wh/L, an impressive milestone for LFP batteries used in energy storage,” the company says.

CATL says the “zero degradation of power” claim is important for big battery projects trying to meet the requirements of highly dynamic renewables-based electricity grids. It also makes the batteries safer, the company says, by helping to prevent thermal runaway – the main cause of fires in lithium-ion battery systems.

“Leveraging biomimetic SEI (solid electrolyte interphase) and self-assembled electrolyte technologies, Tener has cleared roadblocks for the movement of lithium ions and achieved zero degradation for both power and capacity, ensuring zero growth of auxiliary power consumption throughout full life cycle, thereby creating ‘ageless’ energy storage system,” the company says.

“Powered by cutting-edge technologies and extreme manufacturing capabilities, CATL has resolved the challenges caused by highly active lithium metals in zero-degradation batteries, which effectively helps prevent thermal runaway caused by oxidation reaction.”

Other safety features include a quality management system that includes operation monitoring and safety failure analysis – and which sets different safety goals and functions as required by different scenarios.

CATL has a major share in Australia’s pipeline of big battery projects, including contracts worth more than $1 billion with Western Australia government-owned utility Synergy to supply batteries for the 200MW/800MWh second stage of the Kwinana big battery and the 500MW/2000MWh Collie big battery.

CATL is also supplying the hardware for the biggest battery project in South Australia the 238.5 MW / 477 MWh Blythe Battery that will help supply “baseload renewables” to BHP’s giant Olympic Dam mine.