At a glance
- Company
- CATL and Solarpro Technology AD (Solarpro)
- Announcement
- Partnership
Key figures
- Sodium-ion systems agreement
- 2 GWh
- Battery storage project connected in Bulgaria
- 602 MWh
- Increase in Bulgaria’s total energy storage capacity
- 10%
People
- Krasen MateevCEO at Solarpro Holding
- Amanda XuCTO of ESS and President of ESS Europe, CATL
Products and programs
July 25, 2026 -- CATL and Solarpro Technology AD (Solarpro) today announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement for 2 GWh sodium-ion systems. This marks a significant milestone in advancing the adoption of next-generation storage technologies and the transition toward more resilient and sustainable energy systems in Eastern Europe.
Leveraging the technology's unique advantages in low-temperature performance and long cycle life, CATL and Solarpro will explore sodium-ion storage solutions tailored to diverse application scenarios across Central and Eastern Europe. The two companies aim to commission the first sodium‑ion energy storage project in Central and Eastern Europe.
Solarpro is a leader in the Eastern Europe's renewable sector, with strong capabilities in turnkey project delivery, system integration, and long-term operation and maintenance. The collaboration with Solarpro will enable CATL to gain deeper insights into local market needs, address real-world operational challenges, and identify new application scenarios for sodium-ion technology in the region.
As a global leader in sodium‑ion battery innovation backed by advanced R&D, system design, and field validation capabilities, CATL will work with Solarpro to explore and develop sodium‑ion storage solutions optimized for Eastern Europe's climate conditions, grid requirements, and evolving energy landscape, advancing the large-scale adoption of sodium-ion technology in this region.
"Sodium‑ion technology offers clear advantages in low‑temperature performance and long‑cycle life. We see strong potential for its deployment in Lithuania and other Eastern European markets. We look forward to working with CATL to further optimize sodium‑ion storage solutions and identify the most suitable application scenarios across the region," said Krasen Mateev, CEO at Solarpro Holding, part of Vienna based Renalfa Solarpro Group.
Amanda Xu, CTO of ESS and President of ESS Europe, CATL, said: "We are delighted to partner with Solarpro on this project. The efficient teamwork between the two teams has revealed great potential in this partnership. We look forward to the successful implementation of the first sodium-ion battery project in Central and Eastern Europe."
The new agreement builds on the long-standing partnership and shared vision between CATL and Solarpro. In May 2026, through joint efforts, the two companies have successfully connected a 602 MWh large-scale battery energy storage project to the national power grid in Bulgaria, increasing the country's total energy storage capacity by 10%.
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In brief
CATL and Solarpro Technology AD have signed a strategic cooperation agreement covering 2 GWh of sodium-ion storage systems. The companies say they will explore solutions for applications across Central and Eastern Europe, with attention to regional climate conditions and grid requirements. They also aim to commission what they describe as the first sodium-ion energy storage project in Central and Eastern Europe. Solarpro CEO Krasen Mateev cited potential in Lithuania and other Eastern European markets, while CATL’s Amanda Xu said the companies would work toward implementation. The agreement builds on their existing relationship: in May 2026, they connected a 602 MWh battery storage project to Bulgaria’s national grid. The release says that project increased Bulgaria’s total energy storage capacity by 10%.
Key takeaways
- The agreement covers 2 GWh of sodium-ion storage systems.
- The companies plan to explore applications across Central and Eastern Europe.
- They aim to commission a first sodium-ion storage project in Central and Eastern Europe.
- A 602 MWh project connected to Bulgaria’s grid in May 2026, according to the release.
