China mandates energy efficiency upgrades for industrial and digital infrastructure
Chinese authorities have launched a national strategy to reduce carbon emissions through energy-saving upgrades in manufacturing, data centers, and telecommunications.
The National Development and Reform Commission of China, alongside four other government agencies, has released a comprehensive strategy to improve national resource efficiency and lower carbon intensity. The directive targets both heavy industry and digital infrastructure to meet national carbon neutrality goals.
The policy mandates specific energy-saving retrofits for the steel, chemical, and building materials sectors. A significant portion of the plan addresses the rapidly growing digital sector, requiring energy efficiency improvements for computing facilities, data centers, and telecommunications base stations.
By 2030, the government aims to reduce industrial energy consumption per unit of value added by at least 10% compared to 2025 levels. These measures are projected to secure energy savings equivalent to more than 150 million tons of standard coal across key industrial sectors.