Octopus Energy joins up with CATL and Ampace for 'next gen' home batteries

Ampace already makes highly-regarded home batteries (left) while Octopus Energy is preparing to launch its Nook range (right), which it announced prior to this tie-in with CATL, in 2027. (Image credit: Ampace / Octopus Energy) Octopus Energy, Ampace, and CATL are joining forcesThey're promising to 'transform' the smart home battery landscapeWe're expecting next-gen tech like sodium-ion batteriesIt's a boom time for home energy solutions — from DIY solar kits to smart home batteries — and three of the biggest names in the industry are joining forces to build the next generation of home energy storage solutions.Energy supplier Octopus and battery manufacturers CATL and Ampace have announced a 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MoU) to work together to produce the best possible combinations of hardware engineering and software intelligence.Octopus will bring tech such as the smart tariff, mobile app, and customer ecosystem platforms, while CATL and Ampace supply the battery chemistry and hardware nous. Initially, the initiative will be focused on European markets.At this early stage we don't have details of any actual products, but expect advances in cutting-edge tech like sodium-ion batteries, high-density cell designs, and long battery lifecycles — all of which should benefit customers and reduce electricity bills.Looking to the future Octopus Energy has plenty of experience with smart meters (Image credit: Octopus Energy)According to Octopus founder and CEO Greg Jackson, combining the efforts of the three companies will "transform home energy storage", and offer "next-generation batteries where hardware and software work in complete harmony".Jason Zhu, the President of Energy Storage Systems at Ampace, is equally enthusiastic: the partnership will "fundamentally reshape how energy is delivered and consumed" as systems become "smarter, more connected, and more accessible".Of course we'll have to reserve judgment until actual products and offers arrive, but Octopus Energy, CATL, and Ampace all have strong track records. The products that we've seen from these companies, we've liked.Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.The joint press release emphasized the ability for home batteries to charge up during off-peak times and share power back to the grid at times of highest demand, which should mean significant savings for customers — something everyone can support. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.