In January 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, unveiled their latest “Lighthouse Factory” cohort, and HiTHIUM’s Chongqing base in Tongliang, Chongqing, made history. It became the world’s first Lighthouse Factory dedicated to energy-storage batteries, filling a longstanding blank spot in the global map of advanced manufacturing and setting a new benchmark for how storage cells should be built: intelligently, consistently, and at scale.
(for details please click: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-lighthouse-network/home )
A Lighthouse Factory is not a trophy for automation alone. It is widely regarded as one of the most demanding recognitions for Industrial 4.0 at full scale, reserved for manufacturers that take digital, AI and advanced analytics beyond pilots into deep, end-to-end integration, delivering measurable gains in productivity and sustainability. As of January 2026, 224 Lighthouse Factories have been recognised globally, yet energy-storage batteries had remained unrepresented. Hithium did not merely join the network; it opened a new category within it.
The Apex of Intelligence: Where Technology Meets Scale
Spanning 800,000 meters square with a staggering investment of CNY13 billion, the Chongqing base is a marvel of modern engineering. With a planned capacity of 56GWh for next-generation cells and 22GWh for modules, it serves as the global epicenter for the mass production of Thousand-Ampere-hour (Ah) long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions.
What sets this “Lighthouse” apart is its “thinking” infrastructure. By deploying over 40 cutting-edge digital solutions, Hithium has integrated Generative AI (GenAI), Machine Learning, and the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) into every facet of production. With an automation rate of 89%, the factory operates with a level of precision previously deemed impossible.
- Precision at Scale: Through AI-driven adaptive coating and digital twin simulations, Hithium has pushed defect rates to the ppm (parts per billion) level, ensuring that every cell possesses identical excellence.
- Efficiency Redefined: The facility has achieved a 26% reduction in unit energy consumption and a 37% decrease in manufacturing costs, proving that high quality and economic efficiency are no longer mutually exclusive.
Pioneering the LDES Era: The Power of the ∞Cell
Hithium’s leadership is most evident in the realm of Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES). The factory is home to the world’s first dedicated LDES production line, capable of outputting 200 units of the revolutionary ∞Cell 1175Ah every hour.
This flagship cell is a masterwork of electrochemical engineering. Boasting a capacity of 1175Ah and volume energy density of over 400Wh/L, it reduces the number of required cells in a system by two-thirds compared to traditional solutions. This results in a 50% increase in system reliability and 15-20% lower Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) compared to conventional 2-hours system.
Safety remains the bedrock of Hithium’s philosophy. In 2025, the ∞Power system underwent a grueling “Open-Door Extreme Burn Test.” Subjected to temperatures reaching 1372°C for 15 hours, the system demonstrated zero thermal runaway to adjacent units.
In February 2026, Hithium completed another world-first, large-scale open-door fire test for its ∞Power 6.25MWh 4h long-duration system equipped with 1,000Ah-class cells. The test was witnessed by UL Solutions, relevant U.S. AHJs, and registered fire engineers, and executed in strict alignment with UL 9540A (2025) and NFPA 855 (2026).
This uncompromising safety discipline ensures that—from the frozen plains of Northern Europe to the scorching deserts of the Middle East—Hithium delivers energy storage that behaves like infrastructure: stable, predictable, and built to endure.
A Global Titan: Validated by the World’s Most Rigorous Markets
The market’s response to Hithium’s innovation has been nothing short of extraordinary. In early 2026, three of the world’s most authoritative research institutions, ICC Xinluo, SNE Research, and InfoLink Consulting, released their 2025 global rankings. All three confirmed a singular truth: Hithium Energy Storage has ascended to the #2 spot globally in energy storage cell shipments.
With an annual growth rate nearing 200%, Hithium has outperformed the industry average by a vast margin. This “Global Silver Medal” is a testament to the profound trust Hithium has earned from international partners. From the 3GWh agreement with BOSPower in the Nordics to the 1GWh “RAMAT BEKA” solar plus storage project in Isreal, and massive deployments in New York and Australia, Hithium’s products are the heartbeat of the world’s most ambitious energy projects.
The global energy sector recognizes that Hithium offers more than just hardware; it offers a promise of consistency, longevity, and technological superiority.
Vision 2026: Leading the Sustainable Revolution
As we look toward the future, Hithium Energy Storage stands as the “Chain Leader” of a burgeoning ecosystem. By fostering a “one-hour supply chain” in the Chongqing-Sichuan region and achieving a 70% local procurement rate, Hithium is driving regional prosperity while setting global standards.
The “Lighthouse Factory” in Chongqing is just a new start. We are committed to exporting this model of excellence, integrating even more advanced AI and digital twin technologies to serve the global “Dual Carbon” goals.
At Hithium, we are not just following the trend of the energy revolution, we are the ones illuminating the path.
