The first batch of national-level zero-carbon industrial parks has revealed a startling truth: the era of “green energy powering green energy” has arrived.

A major development has just been announced. On December 23, 2025, the first batch of 52 national-level zero‑carbon park construction projects was unveiled, spanning all 31 provincial‑level administrative regions across China. From Qujing in Yunnan—the “World Capital of Photovoltaics”—to Ordos in Inner Mongolia, a hub for lithium‑ion battery and photovoltaic manufacturing, to the Dingzi Bay Nuclear‑Wind‑Solar Innovation Zone in Yantai, Shandong, the new‑energy equipment manufacturing sector dominates half of the list, with parks dedicated to photovoltaics, wind power, lithium‑ion batteries, and other emerging energy technologies firmly occupying the top spots.

 

Among the 52 industrial parks, there are both national-level development zones and “parks within parks,” attracting leading new‑energy companies. Industry giants such as Envision, CATL, LONGi, JA Solar, Trina Solar, and JinkoSolar have all established a strong presence. This list of zero-carbon industrial parks is, in essence, a map of China’s new‑energy equipment manufacturing sector.

 

Envision is a pioneer in zero‑carbon industrial parks; the Ordos Mengsu Economic Development Zone, co‑developed with Ordos, is the world’s first zero‑carbon industrial park. Moreover, more than a dozen other parks—such as the Baotou Rare Earth High‑Tech Industrial Development Zone, the Cangzhou Cangdong Economic Development Zone, and the Shenyang Sino‑German High‑End Equipment Manufacturing Industrial Park—into which Envision has been deeply involved in joint development, have also earned recognition.

 

CATL is a staunch advocate of a zero-carbon ecosystem, and the world’s first carbon‑neutral battery factory is located in the Yibin Port Economic and Technological Development Zone. The industrial parks housing its other zero‑carbon facilities, such as those in Liyang, Jiangsu, and Fuding, Fujian, are also included.

 

This sends a clear signal of the nation’s energy transition. A zero‑carbon park is not merely a label or a symbolic gesture; it is, rather, a strategic cornerstone for achieving green‑to‑green development.

 

Energy transition is the top priority in building zero‑carbon industrial parks. Whether on the production side or the consumption side, the first batch of zero‑carbon park projects has placed a strong emphasis on new energy sources. These initiatives not only address their own carbon emissions but also supply green electricity to nearby high‑energy‑intensive industries, thereby achieving integrated source‑grid‑load‑storage coordination. This supports the green transformation of China’s manufacturing sector and enhances its global competitiveness.

 

01

Green-to-green approach

 

Among the 52 national-level zero-carbon park construction projects, parks led by new‑energy manufacturing have emerged as the clear winners, accounting for roughly half of the total. These parks fall into four main categories:

 

First is new-energy equipment manufacturing, such as Qujing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Yunnan With silicon photovoltaics as its leading industry, the region has attracted industry leaders such as LONGi, JA Solar, Sungrow, and Runyang, striving to become the “World Capital of Photovoltaics.” In the Nanchuan Industrial Park of the Xining Economic and Technological Development Zone in Qinghai, the output value of the photovoltaic manufacturing sector accounts for 65% of the park’s total output, and it has drawn top-tier companies including Jinko Solar, Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, Gaojing Solar, and Lihao Semiconductor. Dingzi Bay New Energy Innovation Zone, Yantai, Shandong It is the region in Shandong Province with the richest concentration of “nuclear‑wind‑solar” clean energy. Zero-Carbon Bay in Shanghai’s Lingang New Area, and the Haojiang Industrial Park in Shantou, Guangdong. Leveraging Shanghai Electric, we are building a full‑scenario zero‑carbon system integrating offshore wind and solar power with source‑grid‑load‑storage integration.

 

In addition, Baoding High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Hebei Province (Yingli, Guoneng United Power), Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Inner Mongolia (Shuangliang, Goldwind Technology), Zhongwei Industrial Park, Ningxia (Xinxin, Beisheng), Baise Strategic Emerging Industry Park, Guangxi (CRRC Wind Power Equipment, Zhongnan Optoelectronics), Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Urumqi, Xinjiang (Xin Te Energy, Hesheng Silicon Industry), Shihezi Economic and Technological Development Zone of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (Daqian New Energy, Tianfu Tianyao, and others) all have new‑energy equipment manufacturing as their core industry.

 

Second is the lithium‑ion new‑energy industry, such as… Yichun Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiangxi Province With lithium-ion batteries as its “leading” industry, the region is home to top-tier companies such as CATL, Gotion High‑Tech, and Shenghua New Materials. Tongxiang High-tech City, Xiamen Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Fujian Province With lithium‑ion batteries as its core industry, the region has attracted leading enterprises such as CATL Xiamen, EVE Energy, Xineng’an, Haichen Energy Storage, and Zhongneng Ruixin. Eastern Industrial Park of the Yibin Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone in Sichuan, and the Liyang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Changzhou, Jiangsu. Centered on CATL, its power battery shipments account for 16.4% and 14.4% of the national market, and 11.1% and 10.9% of the global market, respectively.

 

In addition, Cangdong Economic Development Zone, Cangzhou, Hebei Province (with Farasis Energy as the core), Fuding Industrial Park, Ningde, Fujian Province (centered on CATL), Hubei Jingmen High-tech Industrial Development Zone (centered on EVE Energy), Yulin Longtan Industrial Park, Longgang New Area, Guangxi (With Huayou Lithium as the core), Shanxi Yangquan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (centered on Duofuduo), Dongying Kenli Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shandong Province (centered on Shidashenghua), Jinchang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Gansu Province (Jinchuan and Yini) both have lithium‑ion new energy as their core industry.

 

Third, a “dual‑engine” approach driven by new energy and lithium‑ion batteries—beyond the Qujing Economic and Technological Development Zone in Yunnan and the Nanchuan Industrial Park within the Xining Economic and Technological Development Zone in Qinghai—there are also such as… Mengsu Economic Development Zone, Ordos, Inner Mongolia Focusing on “wind-solar-hydrogen-storage-vehicles” (Envision, LONGi), Xiangyun Economic and Technological Development Zone, Dali, Yunnan Led by green silicon photovoltaics (Hongxin New Energy) and new‑energy batteries (Betray), Su Yin Industrial Park, Yinchuan, Ningxia Vigorously develop the “Two New, One Computing” industries—new materials (Baofeng Energy Storage), new energy (Huasheng), and green computing power.

 

Fourth, energy storage technologies such as sodium-ion batteries and green hydrogen–ammonia–alcohol systems, for example… Anhui Fuyang Economic Development Zone Together with Zhongke Haineng, it has invested in and built the world’s first GWh‑scale sodium‑ion battery mass‑production line. Dafeng Port Economic Development Zone, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province Promote pilot and demonstration projects such as Jidian Green Hydrogen and Lanzhe Green Methanol.

 

To a certain extent, this represents a special arrangement for “green‑to‑green” production—using green energy to manufacture green products. Previously, many pioneering initiatives aimed at achieving zero‑carbon parks and factories were born right here.

 

02

Green power consumption

 

Another key focus in building zero-carbon industrial parks is the integration of new energy, requiring that clean energy account for at least 90% of total consumption and that direct supply of green electricity comprise no less than 50%.

 

The “Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Green Electricity Certificate Market for Renewable Energy,” issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments, specifically names key energy‑intensive sectors such as steel, nonferrous metals, building materials, petrochemicals, chemicals, and data centers.

 

On the list of the first batch of national-level zero-carbon industrial parks, several national computing power hub nodes under the “East Data, West Computing” initiative are included, including… Big Data Science and Innovation City, Guiyang, Guizhou Province (Guizhou Hub), Gansu Qingyang East Data, West Computing Industrial Park (Gansu Hub), Zhongwei Industrial Park, Ningxia (Ningxia Hub), Chongqing Liangjiang New Area (Chengdu–Chongqing Hub).

 

In addition, the Datong Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Yangquan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, the Shihezi Economic and Technological Development Zone, and others have also designated the computing power industry as a key priority for development.

 

Petrochemical and chemical industrial parks have also received particular attention, including Jilin Songyuan Petrochemical Industrial Circular Economy Park, Fujian Zhangzhou Gulei Port Economic Development Zone, Guangxi Beihai Tieshan Port (Coastal) Industrial Zone, and Xinjiang Korla Shangku High-Tech Industrial Development Zone. (Petrochemicals), Heilongjiang Qitaihe River–Lake Integrated Green Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park (Coal chemical industry), Jilin Siping New Industrialization Economic Development Zone and Heilongjiang Suihua Anda Economic Development Zone Fine Chemical Industry Park (Chemical engineering), etc.

 

In the steel industry, Hebei Tangshan Laoting Economic Development Zone Shortlisted.

 

Although the nonferrous metals and building materials sectors do not have dedicated industrial parks, they nonetheless serve as key pillars for numerous zero-carbon industrial parks, such as… Yulin Longtan Industrial Park, Longgang New Area, Guangxi New energy materials (Huayou), stainless steel materials (Liugang), and copper-based new materials (Yutong) form a “three‑legged tripod” structure. Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone It has established four pillar industries: rare-earth new materials, advanced processing of aluminum and copper, high-end equipment manufacturing, and new energy. Jilin Siping New Industrialization Economic Development Zone It is renowned as the “Hometown of Wollastonite in China,” with its chemical, building materials, and equipment manufacturing industries advancing in tandem. Beihai Tieshan Port (Coastal) Industrial Zone It has attracted industries such as chemicals, aluminum, papermaking, and new energy.

 

03

Zero Carbon and Peak Carbon Emissions “Resonate in Sync”

 

China’s “dual carbon” goals comprise two phases—peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality—with 2030 and 2060 as the respective target years. However, the pathway to these objectives is not a linear, step-by-step approach; rather, carbon neutrality considerations must be integrated from the very outset of the peaking phase, as exemplified by zero‑carbon industrial parks.

 

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, a zero-carbon park is one that, through planning, design, technology, and management measures, reduces carbon dioxide emissions from production and daily activities within the park to near-zero levels and meets the conditions necessary to achieve net-zero emissions.

 

The carbon‑peak pilot programs and zero‑carbon industrial parks share many similarities: first, both are overseen by the National Development and Reform Commission; second, both aim to establish 100 such initiatives by 2030; and third, both prioritize the green and low‑carbon transformation of the energy sector.

 

 

This also means that, from the moment of their inception, the two have maintained a relationship in which “you are in me, and I am in you.”

 

Here, by comparing the initial list of 52 zero‑carbon industrial parks with the two previously announced batches of 62 carbon‑peak pilot sites, this connection becomes even more apparent.

 

The Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, the Yibin Lingang Economic-Technological Development Area, and the Shihezi Economic-Technological Development Area are both pilot zones for peaking carbon emissions and zero-carbon parks.

 

Among the pilot cities for peaking carbon emissions, the following industrial parks have been recognized as zero‑carbon parks: the Laoting Economic Development Zone in Tangshan, the Mengsu Economic Development Zone in Ordos, the Rare Earth High‑Tech Industrial Development Zone in Baotou, the Sino‑German High‑End Equipment Manufacturing Industrial Park in Shenyang, the Dafeng Port Economic Development Zone in Yancheng, the Dingziwan New Energy Innovation Zone in Yantai, the Xiangtan Economic and Technological Development Zone in Xiangtan, the Petrochemical Industry Circular Economy Park in Songyuan, the Liyang High‑Tech Industrial Development Zone in Changzhou, the Xiangyun Economic and Technological Development Zone in Dali Prefecture, and the Nanchuan Industrial Park within the Xining Economic and Technological Development Zone in Xining.

 

There are also certain differences between carbon‑peak pilot programs and zero‑carbon industrial parks: the former focuses on piloting—exploration, emphasizing typicality and representativeness, with a “lenient entry, strict exit” approach aimed at “crossing the river by feeling for stones”; the latter prioritizes demonstration—leadership—setting relatively high standards and ensuring a more balanced geographical distribution, thereby playing a role in “using advanced models to drive the less advanced.”