To implement the requirements of the State Council's "Action Plan for Green and Low-Carbon Development of the Manufacturing Industry (2025–2027)" and other relevant documents, expand the application of green electricity in the industrial sector, and promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industries, five departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration, jointly issued the "Guidelines for the Construction and Application of Industrial Green Microgrids (2026–2030)" (Document No. 77 of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, 2025, hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines"). An official from the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology answered questions from reporters regarding the background, significance, and main content of the "Guidelines."

Question: Could you introduce the background and significance of the "Guidelines"?
Industrial green microgrids are comprehensive energy systems designed primarily to provide green electricity to industrial users. They integrate photovoltaic, wind power, high-efficiency heat pumps, new energy storage, hydrogen energy, waste heat, waste pressure, waste gas recovery, and smart energy management and control systems. These microgrids can be integrated into industrial production processes, interact harmoniously with the power grid, and achieve collaborative autonomy. Industrial green microgrids involve all aspects of energy sources, grids, loads, and storage, incorporating new models and formats such as incremental distribution networks, smart microgrids, source-grid-load-storage integration projects, direct green electricity connections, and virtual power plants.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council attach great importance to microgrid construction. The "Opinions on Accelerating the Comprehensive Green Transformation of Economic and Social Development" issued by the Central Committee and the State Council emphasize the construction of smart grids and the acceleration of microgrids, virtual power plants, and source-grid-load-storage integration projects. The "Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" proposes accelerating the construction of smart grids and microgrids, improving the electrification level of end-use energy, and promoting green and low-carbon energy consumption. The Central Economic Work Conference called for accelerating the construction of new energy systems and expanding the application of green electricity.

Promoting the construction and application of industrial green microgrids is an important pathway to facilitate the low-carbon transformation of industrial energy use and achieve the carbon peak goals in the industrial sector. It is also a key area for cultivating new drivers of green development and forging new competitive advantages in industries, as well as an active choice for achieving local consumption of renewable energy and adapting to new power systems. According to research and surveys, many industrial enterprises and parks are actively exploring the construction of industrial green microgrids, with over 300 projects already in operation nationwide. Overall, China's microgrid-related technologies and equipment continue to make breakthroughs, the market mechanisms for power auxiliary services are gradually improving, and a number of comprehensive energy service providers have accumulated rich experience and case studies in construction and operation. However, industrial green microgrids are still largely in the pilot and demonstration stages, facing challenges in technical standards, market mechanisms, and coordination with the main power grid.

To address these issues, we researched and compiled the "Guidelines," with a focus on helping industrial enterprises and parks understand the construction content, models, and application scenarios of industrial green microgrids, guiding market entities to participate in project implementation and application, and promoting the high-standard, high-quality development of industrial green microgrids.

Question: What was the process of compiling the "Guidelines"?
Since 2025, we have conducted field research in Beijing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and other regions, and organized multiple symposiums with grid/power companies, industrial users, third-party solution providers, industry associations, and research institutes to understand the current status of industrial green microgrid construction and application. We also solicited opinions and suggestions on design requirements, construction content, operation models, and application scenarios. In March 2025, we established a compilation team led by the China Electric Power Research Institute to draft the initial version of the "Guidelines." Considering that industrial green microgrids involve multiple fields and aspects, we sought feedback on the "Guidelines" from relevant ministries, local industry and information technology authorities, research institutes, and enterprises, and completed the necessary policy document reviews and evaluations as required. The final version of the "Guidelines" is the result of fully incorporating opinions from all parties and reaching a consensus.

Question: What are the main contents of the "Guidelines"?
The "Guidelines" consist of five parts: construction principles, main construction content, construction models, application scenarios, and construction requirements.

1. Construction Principles: These include five basic principles: promoting efficient complementary use of multiple energy sources, facilitating the local high-proportion consumption of renewable energy, enhancing friendly interaction with the power grid, ensuring industrial load regulation capabilities, and improving the operational management level of digital and intelligent systems.

2. Main Construction Content: This covers six aspects of facilities or systems: renewable energy power generation, industrial waste energy utilization, clean and low-carbon hydrogen production and utilization, new energy storage applications, power conversion and flexible interconnection, and digital energy and carbon management.

3. Construction Models: Based on the construction entities and operation models, the "Guidelines" mainly categorize them into self-funded and self-built models and third-party co-construction models. It also outlines the responsibilities of relevant entities in construction and operation and specifies regulatory requirements, such as project approval or filing authorities overseeing safety supervision during project construction and operation.

4. Application Scenarios: Focusing on the energy consumption characteristics of different industrial sectors, the application scenarios of industrial green microgrids are divided into four categories: high energy consumption, flexibility, adjustability, and high reliability. Examples of load characteristics, functional requirements, and application cases for each scenario are provided.

5. Construction Requirements: Requirements are proposed from the perspectives of strictly adhering to standards and norms, accelerating the application of advanced technologies, ensuring safe and reliable operation, and achieving economic feasibility.

Question: What are the next steps for promoting the implementation and application of the "Guidelines"?
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will collaborate with the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Energy Administration, and other departments to promote the implementation of the "Guidelines," strengthen coordination and policy support, and work with industry authorities to advance the construction and application of industrial green microgrids in line with their respective fields. This will provide strong support for promoting green and low-carbon transformation in key sectors.

1. Promotion and Interpretation: After the release of the "Guidelines," we will collaborate with relevant ministries, local industry and information technology authorities, industry associations, research institutes, and key enterprises to carry out various promotional activities focusing on typical cases, advanced technologies, and standards related to industrial green microgrids. We will also provide detailed interpretations of the key content of the "Guidelines" to help regions and industries better understand and apply them.

2. Accelerating Implementation: We will provide classified guidance, work deployment, and practical guidance for key industries, encouraging industrial enterprises and parks to systematically plan, orderly advance, and promote the construction and application of industrial green microgrids based on their specific needs. We will also encourage relevant regions and industries to explore new technologies, models, and application scenarios in accordance with the "Guidelines," summarize and promote advanced experiences from typical projects, and develop a set of mature solutions for broader application.

3. Improving Supporting Measures: We will strengthen communication and collaboration with the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Energy Administration, and other departments to ensure alignment with existing plans and policies. The implementation of the "Guidelines" will be coordinated with energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives, large-scale equipment updates, and high-tech research and development in key industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals, petrochemicals, building materials, machinery, electronics, and base stations. We will enhance organizational efforts, refine work plans, and ensure the implementation of each task.