Global Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Trends

Global Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Trends

As the global focus on sustainable development continues to increase, various industries are looking for ways to improve energy efficiency. This article will comprehensively analyze the industrial energy efficiency improvement measures of Chinese, European and international companies in the new era and look forward to the future trends of the industry.

China’s 15-year New Energy System Five-Year Plan

China announced its new energy system plan in the "Outline of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan of the People's Republic of China" in June 2026, setting development goals until 2030. This plan aims to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, emphasizing the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency improvement and technological upgrading. It is foreseeable that in the future, China will increase its support for improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector and promote the transformation of traditional industries into green and low-carbon.

European industrial electricity price policy approved by European Commission

In April 2026, the European Commission approved a new policy on industrial electricity prices, aiming to reduce the energy costs of industrial enterprises and promote the improvement of energy efficiency. The new policy will provide financial support for eligible energy efficiency projects, including the adoption of energy-saving technologies and the implementation of emission reduction measures. The introduction of this policy reflects Europe’s concern for energy issues in the industrial sector and its determination to promote the achievement of the emission reduction targets stipulated in the Paris Agreement.

Siemens promotes sustainable smart infrastructure

As a global leader in electrification and automation, Siemens continues to be committed to building sustainable smart infrastructure. In February 2026, Siemens released a report on sustainable smart infrastructure. The report mentioned that the company achieves efficient use of energy through technological innovation, especially digital automation and smart grid solutions. Siemens' cooperation case shows that companies can effectively reduce energy consumption and environmental impact through technological upgrading, which has an important demonstration role in improving industrial energy efficiency.

Chinese companies use ESG to drive transformation of global value chains

In a piece of news in March 2026, China's TCL Group successfully drove the green transformation of its global value chain by implementing ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategies. By investing in environmentally friendly technologies and optimizing production processes, TCL not only reduces its own energy consumption, but also improves the sustainability of its supply chain. This move provides an example for how companies in China and even global economies can take on the responsibility of environmental protection while pursuing economic benefits.

Promote the zero-carbon factory concept

In January 2026, the zero-carbon factory became one of the daily words of the China Daily network. A zero-carbon plant is one that produces little or no carbon dioxide emissions during production, including through the use of clean energy. The popularity of this concept heralds a profound transformation in industrial production patterns, from high energy consumption and emissions to low- or even no-carbon development. The Chinese government, enterprises and scientific research institutions have achieved some preliminary results in the construction of zero-carbon factories, which is of great significance for improving energy efficiency in the entire industrial sector.

Conclusions and Prospects

Global improvements in industrial energy efficiency are becoming a trend, whether it is government policy support, such as China's fifteenth five-year plan and Europe's electricity price adjustment policy, or independent corporate actions, such as TCL's ESG practices and Siemens' smart infrastructure construction, are moving in a more sustainable direction. In particular, the development and practice of the concept of "zero-carbon factory" not only reflects the possibilities brought by technological progress, but also demonstrates the determination to transition to a green economy. In the future, with the introduction of more relevant policies and the continuous emergence of technological innovations, energy use efficiency in the industrial sector will be further improved, contributing to the achievement of global climate goals.