HiTHIUM Achieves Recognition as World's First Lighthouse Factory for Energy Storage Batteries

HiTHIUM: A Landmark Achievement in Energy Storage Manufacturing

In a monumental announcement, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has officially recognized HiTHIUM's Chongqing production site as the world's first Lighthouse factory dedicated to energy storage batteries. This accolade represents a significant milestone for both HiTHIUM and the global energy storage industry, reflecting the company's commitment to innovation and excellence in manufacturing.

What is a Lighthouse Factory?

The Lighthouse factory designation within the WEF's Global Lighthouse Network is reserved for exceptional manufacturing facilities that exemplify excellence in productivity, resilience in supply chains, customer responsiveness, sustainability, and talent development. Since its inception, in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, the initiative has only honored a select group of plants globally, and HiTHIUM's Chongqing site is the first to earn recognition in the energy storage sector.

Innovative Manufacturing Practices

HiTHIUM's Chongqing facility is not only the first global mass production site for kilowatt-hour long-duration energy storage (LDES), but it also employs cutting-edge intelligent manufacturing techniques to set new industry standards. With a strong focus on digital transformation, the plant aims to enhance the overall development of the global energy storage value chain. This includes systematic breakthroughs that pave the way for improved production quality and efficiency.

As Kiva Allgood, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum, aptly stated, "Competitiveness is no longer defined solely by efficiency but by the ability to perceive changes quickly, adapt, and respond rapidly." The recognition of HiTHIUM's factory signifies its role as a hub of intelligent, digitally-controlled operations designed to drive resilience and sustainability within the manufacturing environment.

Meeting Industry Demands

The energy storage sector is currently experiencing unprecedented growth driven by rising demand, cost pressures, and strict quality requirements. Traditional manufacturing models are proving inadequate in meeting these evolving challenges. HiTHIUM's Chongqing production site has risen to address these demands by developing an intelligent manufacturing strategy that emphasizes near-zero defect production, systematic cost optimization, and smart workflows. Significant improvements in yield, production capacity, and overall efficiency have been realized through ongoing exploration of lean production practices and advanced manufacturing technologies.

The facility boasts more than 40 digital solutions that integrate generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, and AIoT technologies to enhance operations. This intelligent control spans the entire lifecycle—from R&D to material selection, manufacturing, and final inspection—ensuring exceptional consistency and providing a solid foundation for safe, reliable, and high-performance energy storage batteries.

Pioneering Future Applications

Building on the maturity of its intelligent manufacturing system, HiTHIUM is anticipating the launch of more specialized manufacturing layouts tailored for LDES applications. The Chongqing site has continuously expanded its adaptive capabilities in intelligent manufacturing across various technical pathways and application scenarios. Notably, it has established the world's first production line for LDES batteries. In June 2025, HiTHIUM commenced the mass production of the LDES battery,∞Cell 1175Ah, and by October, global deliveries of the ∞Power 6.25 MWh 4-hour LDES BESS began.

By December, the system stood out as a representative of the energy storage sector at a nationwide exhibition highlighting advancements in Chinese manufacturing.

Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability

Looking forward, HiTHIUM is committed to enhancing the leadership role of its flagship factory through continued investment in R&D and intelligent manufacturing while establishing flexible and resilient supply chain networks. As an industry leader, HiTHIUM will drive digital transformation not only for itself but also for its upstream and downstream partners, fostering a highly cooperative and efficient industrial ecosystem.

Through continuous exports of scalable, intelligent manufacturing techniques and industrialization capabilities, HiTHIUM aims to support the large-scale, high-quality, safe, and efficient deployment of LDES batteries and systems, ultimately providing a robust Chinese solution for the global transition to green and sustainable energy.