CATL and Canadian Solar subsidiary CSI Solar to collaborate on battery storage, ‘innovative renewable energy tech’

By Sean Rai-Roche
November 29, 2021
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
CATL is one of the biggest suppliers of lithium-ion batteries to the global energy storage industry. Image: Andy Colthorpe / Solar Media.

Canadian Solar subsidiary CSI Solar has signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) that will focus on energy storage and renewable energy technology.

Announced on 24 November, the agreement will see the companies cooperate on battery energy storage system (BESS) solutions, the supply of lithium-ion battery modules, operation and maintenance (O&M) services of battery storage projects and “innovative renewable energy technology”. 

“Global demand for battery storage is increasing dramatically under the backdrop of reaching net-zero emission goals,” said CATL vice president Tan Libin. “Our competitive advantage is on delivering highly innovative, efficient, competitive, and safe batteries across various applications, while Canadian Solar is an early mover and one of the key players in the global battery energy storage business.”

Shawn Qu, Canadian Solar’s chairman and CEO, said the partnership would “support the rapid growth of our battery storage businesses”.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“The partnership leverages CATL’s innovative battery storage technology and our global reach and experience to provide best-in-class battery storage solutions to our customers,” Qu said.

Canadian Solar has a global battery storage pipeline of 21GWh, including 2.9GWh under construction, according to a company media release.

The PV module manufacturer recently announced it was halting solar cell expansions and will instead ramp up module assembly plans in response to solar cell overcapacity and high module demand.

This story first appeared on PV Tech.

Read Next

Premium
November 14, 2025
The US development arm of Milan, Italy-headquartered developer Nadara has encountered a setback in its pursuit of a 200MW hybrid BESS destined for Arizona.
November 13, 2025
Developer Acciona Energia will add a gigawatt-hour-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) at an existing solar PV plant in Chile.
November 13, 2025
The three-year rolling partnership, whereby CATL will supply HyperStrong with cells and system products, could be updated annually.
November 12, 2025
India’s Adani Group has made its first entry into the battery storage market, announcing a ‘flagship deployment’ that will be the country’s largest project so far when completed.
November 12, 2025
Although vertically integrated ESS-cell suppliers retain more control over their supply chain, system integrators’ flexibility may help them in the medium-term, writes Solar Media Market Research analyst Charlotte Gisbourne.