CATL’s Tener S fits 6.017 MWh into a 20-foot container

A standard 20-foot container can now hold CATL’s Tener S battery energy storage system, with 6.017 MWh of rated capacity. The liquid-cooled, DC-connected unit weighs 45 metric tons and is designed for projects that need to store electricity for two hours.

The system is moving beyond the datasheet. In May, Spanish developer Grenergy announced a deal for 252 Tener S units, totaling 1.5 GWh, for its Oviedo and Escuderos projects. The third stage of Quinbrook’s Supernode project in Australia will also use the product. CATL has supplied the system to at least two major developers, according to ESS News.

The capacity marks a step up from CATL’s earlier systems. The EnerC is listed at 3.72 MWh and was designed for one-hour storage, while the EnerC Plus reaches 4.073 MWh for two-hour applications. CATL’s documents use both Tener S and EnerS, reflecting changes in the company’s product naming.

The Tener S operates at 1,500 V and has a typical charge and discharge rate of up to 0.5P. In that configuration, its capacity corresponds to approximately 3.01 MW for two hours. A four-hour setup at 0.25P would correspond to approximately 1.5 MW. CATL also lists zero degradation, an IP55 enclosure rating and an operating range from -35 C to 55 C.

So what changes in practice? Developers can place more stored energy in the same standard container footprint than with CATL’s earlier EnerC products, while selecting a two-hour or four-hour configuration depending on the project. The orders in Spain and the planned use in Australia show that the system is being considered for large installations, but the reported figures remain CATL’s specifications.