Summary of Key Points
On September 3, 2026, the 5th World Power Battery Conference will kick off in Yibin, Sichuan. Over the past five years, this conference has grown from a mere industry gathering to a global industry benchmark. It has not only witnessed the technological advancement and expansion of the power battery industry but also facilitated Yibin's transformation from the "City of Liquor" in China to the "Capital of Power Batteries." Both have achieved significant milestones, yet they both face new challenges: the conference needs to shift from reflecting trends to setting rules, and Yibin must upgrade from a hub for production capacity to a center for innovation, working together to become a core hub for the global new energy industry.
I. The Conference's Evolution: From an Industry Gathering to a Global Benchmark
Five years ago, the inaugural conference was a national-level professional event that attracted 800 guests and 287 companies. Today, it has become a global industry standard, having attracted 1,100 companies and 7,000 guests over four editions, with the release of 700 new technologies and the signing of 400 projects. Its evolution is reflected in three aspects:
- More Practical Topics: The focus has shifted from general discussions on trends to targeted efforts in industrialization. This year's conference focuses on core areas such as battery materials, charging and swapping technologies, and recycling, and includes special sessions on solid-state batteries and industry integration to directly drive technological advancements.
- Deeper Internationalization: The conference has expanded from domestic exchanges to global collaboration. In 2023, Hungary was the guest of honor; in 2026, Spain will be invited, and it collaborates with international organizations like the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Global Battery Alliance, becoming a platform for global industry dialogue.
- More Authoritative Outcomes: The conference consistently releases the "Power Battery Industry Development Index" and technology roadmaps and has established an expert committee led by academicians, serving as a guide for the industry.
The underlying logic is that the industry is moving from expanding production capacity to competing on technology. Consequently, the conference's focus has shifted from discussing how to build factories to how to make breakthroughs in solid-state batteries and supply chain security. On a global scale, issues such as carbon footprint and lithium resource security have become central, transforming the conference from a showcase into a forum for rule-making.
II. Yibin's Transformation: From the City of Liquor to the Capital of Power Batteries
Five years ago, Yibin was primarily known for its Wuliangye liquor, with almost no power battery industry. Today, it has developed a second industry worth over 100 billion yuan, following the liquor sector. The key to this transformation lies in three strategies:
- Agglomeration Effect: After attracting CATL in 2019, Yibin has attracted 130 upstream and downstream companies, establishing the world's largest single power battery production base with a supply chain coverage rate of over 90%.
- Closed-loop Ecology: Yibin can handle the entire production process from raw materials to battery cells, vehicles, and recycling locally, reducing costs and improving efficiency compared to other regions.
- Model Replication: Yibin has applied its success in power batteries to other sectors such as photovoltaics and energy storage, with 39 companies in the photovoltaic industry generating 37 billion yuan in 2025 and 30 energy storage projects signed. Its revenue from artificial intelligence also exceeds 10 billion yuan.
As a result, Yibin has seen the highest GDP growth rate in Sichuan for several years and has been awarded the titles of "Capital of Power Batteries in China" and "New High Ground for China's Energy Storage Industry."
III. The Mutual Success of the Conference and Yibin
This is not a coincidence but a virtuous cycle of "boosting the industry through the conference and promoting the conference with industry development":
- Yibin Needs the Conference: As an inland city, Yibin needs a global platform to attract businesses, technology, and talent for its new energy transformation. The conference has brought in leading companies like CATL, accelerating industrial development.
- The Conference Needs Yibin: Yibin's advantages, such as its access to the Yangtze River for transportation of raw materials, policy support (including land and tax incentives), and the industrial foundation provided by Wuliangye, have helped the conference evolve from a simple meeting to a comprehensive industrial platform.
For example, the technology roadmaps released by the conference guide Yibin's companies in their development of solid-state batteries, while Yibin's industry achievements enhance the conference's credibility and attract more international participants.
IV. The Next Five Years: The Challenge of Moving from Growth to Strength
Both the conference and Yibin are at a crossroads, and the real test is yet to begin:
- Challenges for the Conference: It must transition from being a trend reflector to a rule-maker. This means taking the initiative in setting standards, such as in the areas of low-carbon certification and lithium resource security, to gain a voice in global standard-setting (for instance, by establishing a carbon footprint platform to give Chinese companies a competitive edge).
- Challenges for Yibin: Yibin needs to move from a focus on production capacity to innovation. While its current capacity is 270 GWh and it aims to exceed 300 GWh this year, the industry is facing issues of excess low-end capacity and a shortage of high-end products. To achieve a target of 300 billion yuan in output, it must focus on technological breakthroughs, such as solid-state batteries (Yibin has already conducted pilot tests on semi-solid-state batteries and aims to industrialize them by the 14th Five-Year Plan) and the commercialization of next-generation batteries. Additionally, the power battery market is shifting from being dominated by automobiles to a diversified sector including transportation, energy storage, and industry applications, requiring Yibin to proactively invest in these new areas.
The story of this conference and this city continues. The 5th World Power Battery Conference in 2026 marks a new beginning for their journey towards becoming a global hub for new energy. Whether they will succeed depends on whether they can transform their scale advantage into a technological one and their industrial platform into a center for rule-making over the next five years.