On the morning of July 10, 2023, the 33rd National Energy Conservation Awareness Week was launched in Guangzhou. At the launch ceremony, Zhao Chenxin, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, introduced that currently, the energy consumption of value-added industrial units in China has decreased by 36.2% compared to 2012, and significant achievements have been made in energy conservation in various fields such as construction, transportation, and public institutions.

It is understood that July 10-16 will be this year's National Energy Conservation Promotion Week, with the theme of "Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction, Walking with Us". As a major player in energy conservation and carbon reduction, the industrial sector accounts for approximately 70% of the total energy consumption in society. In the implementation of energy conservation and emission reduction, it has always been given urgent attention.

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasizes the promotion of high-end, intelligent, and green development in the manufacturing industry, the implementation of comprehensive conservation strategies, and the promotion of intensive utilization of various resources.

In June 2023, in order to implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on coordinating industrial structure adjustment, promoting green development of manufacturing industry, and promoting clean and low-carbon transformation in industrial and other fields, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and five other departments jointly issued the "Energy Efficiency Benchmark Level and Benchmark Level in Key Industrial Areas (2023 Edition)" (referred to as the "2023 Edition Standard").

The Intelligent Manufacturing Network has noticed that the 2023 version of the standard has further expanded the scope of energy-saving and carbon reduction transformation and upgrading in key industrial areas. On the basis of the 25 key energy efficiency benchmark and benchmark levels previously identified, 11 new key areas have been added, including ethylene glycol, urea, titanium dioxide, polyvinyl chloride, purified terephthalic acid, radial tires, industrial silicon, toilet paper base paper, tissue base paper, cotton, chemical fibers and blended machine fabrics, knitted fabrics, yarns, and viscose short fibers.

Moreover, the 2023 version of the standard proposes that the 25 key areas previously identified should be technically transformed or phased out by the end of 2025. The 11 new areas added to the 2023 version of the standard should, in principle, be completed with technical transformation or phased out by the end of 2026.

The countdown to industrial energy conservation and emission reduction tasks has begun, how can we take the next step well?

In recent years, China's industrial energy conservation and carbon reduction have achieved significant results, thanks not only to continuously improving top-level design, but also to the multi-dimensional and fully covered industrial low-carbon development system formed for different key areas.

In the implementation of industrial energy conservation and carbon reduction, "new industrialization", "green manufacturing", and "energy conservation and environmental protection" have become hot words for industry development.

Deepen the promotion of new industrialization and accelerate the construction of a "manufacturing powerhouse"

The concept of new industrialization is a development concept, from the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposing that China should follow the path of new industrialization, to the 18th National Congress report proposing to adhere to the path of new industrialization with Chinese characteristics, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization.

Promoting the construction of new industrialization has become a strategic choice for China to achieve high-quality economic development, and it is an important historical opportunity for China to seize the new round of technological and industrial revolution.

Focusing on intelligent manufacturing, we aim to promote the deep integration of new generation information technologies such as 5G, big data, and artificial intelligence with the manufacturing industry. We will promote the digital and intelligent transformation of the manufacturing industry, deepen the innovative application of industrial Internet and the construction of new information infrastructure. The strategic choice to accelerate China's transition from a "manufacturing powerhouse" to a "manufacturing powerhouse" and build a modern industrial system.

Intensify the research and development of advanced energy-saving and environmental protection technologies, comprehensively promote the green and low-carbon development of industry

Green manufacturing is an important lever for green development in the industrial sector. In recent years, China's industrial green development has achieved significant results, and the construction of a green manufacturing system has made new progress.

Data shows that from 2012 to 2022, the cumulative decrease in energy consumption per unit of added value of industrial enterprises above designated size in China exceeded 36%. A large number of green factories have advanced energy consumption levels higher than the national energy consumption quota standards, gradually building a full chain green product supply system from basic raw materials to end consumer goods.

As of now, China has cultivated and constructed 3657 green factories, 270 green industrial parks, 408 green supply chain enterprises, and promoted nearly 30000 green products.

It is crucial to increase research and development efforts in advanced energy-saving and environmental protection technologies, processes, and equipment in order to comprehensively promote the green transformation and development of the manufacturing industry. Especially in the green transformation of traditional manufacturing industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, building materials, light industry, and printing and dyeing, we will vigorously research and promote green process technology and equipment, accelerate the application of clean and efficient processing technology, achieve green production, and thus transform traditional industries into green industries.

From this, it can be seen that with the support of industrial energy-saving equipment application and intelligent digitalization and greening, industrial energy consumption will continue to decrease, and the era of "energy conservation and low-carbon" is approaching!