Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage Recognized as the World’s First “Lighthouse Factory” in the Energy Storage Battery Sector, Leading Smart Manufacturing in Long-Duration Energy Storage

A “Lighthouse Factory” is regarded as the world’s most advanced factory, representing the highest global standard in digitalization and intelligent transformation within the manufacturing industry.

On January 16, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and McKinsey & Company jointly announced their latest cohort of “Lighthouse Factories.” Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage”), located in Tongliang District, Chongqing, earned this distinction for its exceptional performance in smart manufacturing, R&D innovation, and supply chain management. This recognition establishes Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage as the world’s first Lighthouse Factory dedicated to energy storage batteries, signaling that China has reached a world-leading level in the intelligent manufacturing and digital upgrading of the energy storage industry.

A primary factor in Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage’s selection is its strategic focus on the long-duration energy storage sector.

The company operates the world’s first dedicated production line for long-duration energy storage batteries, with an output of 200 kilowatt-hour-class battery cells per hour. Designed for applications requiring over four hours of storage, these products demand extreme performance in cycle life, safety, and cost-effectiveness. By deeply integrating a smart manufacturing system, the company ensures exceptional consistency and reliability in mass production. This approach has rapidly propelled it to the forefront of global energy storage battery shipments, with cumulative shipments surpassing 100 GWh.

Image: Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. in the Tongliang High-tech Zone. Photo provided by the company.

Furthermore, through deep integration of automation and digital technologies, the factory has achieved an 89% automation rate across its production lines, with all high-risk processes fully automated. Its smart manufacturing operations platform, built on digital twin technology, enables data-driven processes and intelligent decision-making throughout production. In R&D, proprietary AI technology aids in material screening and performance prediction, while simulation tools have helped shorten the R&D cycle by 31%. Within the supply chain, AI and Generative AI (GenAI) applications enable agile order response and intelligent forecasting of supply chain risks, creating a resilient and efficient supply network.

Long-duration energy storage is a critical enabler for building a new power system centered on renewable energy. It effectively mitigates the intermittency of power generation from sources like wind and solar, serving as a core component for expanding the use of green electricity. The Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage Lighthouse Factory itself is a model of the virtuous cycle between “green manufacturing” and “manufacturing for a green future.”

On one hand, the factory employs technologies like photovoltaic smart management, precise energy control, and AI-driven systems, reducing energy consumption per unit product by 26%. It embeds green and low-carbon principles throughout its operations, striving toward sustainable development goals. On the other hand, its mass-produced, high-performance, and cost-effective long-duration storage products are empowering industries to transition to clean energy. This turns green electricity into tangible industrial competitiveness and economic growth, solidifying the foundation for a green industrial economy.

Image: Workers are busy in the Phase I production workshop of the Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage project in Tongliang District. Photo by reporter Xie Zhiqiang.

The rapid rise of Chongqing Hithium Energy Storage is a vivid example of the “complementary advantages and win-win cooperation” within the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. Since establishing itself in Chongqing’s Tongliang District, Hithium Energy Storage, as a “chain leader” enterprise, has exerted a powerful radiating effect on the local economy. The factory went from groundbreaking to full-capacity operation of its first production line in just 13 months, and completed iterative upgrades through four generations of smart factories in just three years.

Driven by Hithium Energy Storage, Tongliang District has begun to form a complete new energy storage industrial chain, spanning key materials, cell manufacturing, and system integration. It has successfully attracted key upstream and downstream projects involving components like separators, aluminum foil, and anode materials, aggregating 16 major enterprises including Housheng and Keda. To meet local component demand, the district has also established a platform to match supply and demand for industrial chain products. This has guided over ten traditional electronics and advanced materials companies—such as Jinghongyi, Minglida, and Yingli—to pivot toward the new energy storage sector, producing supporting parts like separators and structural components. This effort builds a full industrial chain encompassing “R&D – Conversion – Production – Testing – Operation – Application.” Data shows that in 2025, Tongliang District’s new energy storage industry achieved an output value of RMB 17 billion, a 70% year-on-year increase, demonstrating robust growth momentum.

Source: New Chongqing – Chongqing Daily
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