Highstar unveiled a battery cell portfolio spanning three power tiers for AI data centers, from rack-level backup to grid-side storage. Highstar, a battery maker headquartered in Qidong, Jiangsu province, showed the lineup at the 2026 GGII Energy Storage Industry Summit in Nantong, China, on July 27.
The lineup breaks down into grey-space UPS and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, white-space battery backup units (BBUs), and grid-side energy storage. White space is the room that holds the servers; grey space is the surrounding equipment area for power and cooling. Highstar said rising AI rack density and load swings are pushing data centers to demand faster response, dependable backup, steadier temperatures and longer service life.
| Layer | Cell type | Key spec |
|---|---|---|
| Grey space (UPS/HVDC) | High-rate lithium iron phosphate | 85Ah |
| Grey space (UPS/HVDC) | Sodium-ion | 50Ah, -40°C to 80°C |
| White space (BBU) | Tabless cylindrical, LFP or high-nickel NMC | 18650 and 21700 formats |
| Grid-side storage | Lithium-ion | 314Ah |
| Grid-side storage | Sodium-ion | 160Ah |
What each tier is built for
The 85Ah lithium iron phosphate cell is built to deliver power fast and hold up under frequent power pulses, while the companion 50Ah sodium-ion cell is built for a wide temperature range, -40°C to 80°C. The white-space tabless cylindrical cells, in both lithium iron phosphate and high-nickel NMC chemistries, aim for high instantaneous power, low internal resistance, less heat buildup and safer operation, in formats sized for different rack-space, power and cost needs. The grid-side pair, 314Ah lithium-ion and 160Ah sodium-ion cells, is built to balance long-duration storage, cycle life and rapid power support instead.
One architecture, not separate products
Highstar frames the three tiers as a single architecture, saying it cuts the selection and integration work for power equipment suppliers, system integrators and data center operators and gives them a common base for joint validation across AIDC power designs. At the same summit, Highstar took part in launching the "2026 Global AIDC Power Supply Industry Development Blue Book" and was named a "Top Benchmark in AIDC Energy Storage."
