Jiangsu Highstar Battery Manufacturing has launched what it describes as a full-chain battery cell solution for artificial intelligence data centers, introducing a coordinated portfolio spanning rack-level backup, system-level power protection, and grid-side energy storage.

The announcement was made at the 2026 GGII Energy Storage Industry Summit in what the company positioned as a response to the growing power complexity created by high-density AI computing infrastructure.

A Portfolio Built Around Three Distinct Power Layers

The architecture Highstar presented divides data center power requirements into three operational zones: grey space, which covers uninterruptible power supply and high-voltage direct current systems; white space, which addresses battery backup units positioned closer to computing hardware; and the grid side, where large-format cells support longer-duration energy storage and rapid power delivery to upstream systems.

The company framed this layered approach as a deliberate design choice, arguing that AI workloads drive rack density and load volatility to levels that demand faster response times, tighter thermal control, more reliable backup, and stronger lifecycle performance than conventional data center power infrastructure was built to provide.

The three-layer structure is intended to create a single coordinated portfolio that addresses each of these zones with chemistry and format choices matched to their specific operating conditions.

Grey-Space Cells Target UPS and HVDC Systems

For grey-space applications, Highstar introduced two distinct cell types. The first is an 85Ah high-rate lithium iron phosphate cell designed for UPS and HVDC deployments that must deliver high power output rapidly and sustain reliable backup performance under frequent pulse conditions.

The company said high-rate discharge capability, thermal control, safety characteristics, and durability combine to support compact system design while helping operators manage the trade-off between system availability and lifecycle cost.

The second grey-space product is a 50Ah sodium-ion battery cell, which Highstar said is better suited for wide-temperature operation, with a rated range of negative 40 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees Celsius.

The sodium-ion option extends the portfolio's reach into environments or configurations where extreme temperature variation would challenge standard lithium-ion chemistry.

Cylindrical Cells for White-Space BBU Applications

The white-space portion of the portfolio targets battery backup units, which sit within or adjacent to server racks and must respond to load changes with minimal delay. Highstar is offering a range of tabless cylindrical cells in both 18650 and 21700 form factors, available in lithium iron phosphate and high-nickel NMC chemistries.

The tabless cylindrical design is intended to deliver high instantaneous power output alongside low internal resistance and reduced temperature rise during operation.

The company said the range of formats, chemistries, and performance profiles is designed to accommodate varying rack-space constraints, power requirements, and cost targets across different data center deployments, giving power equipment suppliers and system integrators flexibility in how they configure BBU systems.

Grid-Side Storage Closes the Chain

At the grid side, Highstar's portfolio incorporates 314Ah lithium-ion cells and 160Ah sodium-ion cells. The company said this pairing is intended to balance long-duration energy storage capability, cycle life, and the ability to provide rapid power support when needed.

Together with the grey-space and white-space layers, the grid-side products complete what Highstar describes as a continuous chain extending from individual rack-level protection through system-level backup to upstream energy storage.

The full portfolio combines lithium-ion and sodium-ion chemistries with both prismatic and cylindrical cell platforms. Highstar said the underlying technology integrates development across cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator materials, paired with structural design approaches that include tabless current collection, precision pressure relief mechanisms, and directional venting.

Reducing Integration Complexity for Operators and Suppliers

One of the stated objectives behind the full-chain architecture is simplifying the process of selecting and integrating battery solutions for the range of companies involved in building and operating AI data center infrastructure. Highstar said the common portfolio foundation is meant to reduce complexity for power equipment suppliers, system integrators, and data center operators alike.

The portfolio also provides, according to the company, a shared technical basis for joint validation work and application-specific development across different AI data center power architectures.

Rather than treating each power layer as an independent procurement decision, the full-chain approach is intended to give buyers a coordinated set of cell technologies that have been designed to function together across the complete power stack.

Industry Recognition at the Summit

During the 2026 GGII Energy Storage Industry Summit, Highstar participated in the launch of the 2026 Global AIDC Power Supply Industry Development Blue Book, a publication covering the artificial intelligence data center power supply sector.

The company was also recognized at the event with a Top Benchmark in AIDC Energy Storage designation, which Highstar described as authoritative recognition from within the industry.

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