A new chapter in industrial energy efficiency: global trends and Chinese practices

Preface

With the intensification of global climate change and the advancement of sustainable development goals, improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector has become the focus of governments and enterprises around the world. Recently, China and Europe have adopted a series of innovative initiatives and policy measures in industrial energy efficiency, injecting new vitality into the industry. This article will sort out these dynamics and analyze the development trends and impacts of industrial energy efficiency.

Global Industrial Energy Efficiency Market Overview

According to Moomoo, the global absorption chiller market is expected to reach US$2.98 billion by 2036. This growth is mainly due to the promotion of waste heat utilization and district cooling technologies, which provide more sustainable cooling solutions for the industrial sector while also significantly improving energy efficiency.

As an innovative refrigeration technology, absorption refrigeration machines can utilize waste heat in industrial production processes and convert it into cooling energy, thereby reducing the power consumption of traditional refrigeration systems. In addition, the application of district cooling systems has also shown great potential in many industrial fields, especially in scenarios such as large industrial parks and data centers.

Latest Progress in Industrial Energy Efficiency in China

A new generation of energy-saving solutions

China Science and Technology Network reports on the development of new generation energy-saving solutions. These solutions include intelligent energy management systems, high-efficiency motors and frequency converters, waste heat recovery and utilization and other technologies, aiming to improve industrial energy utilization efficiency and reduce energy waste through technological innovation.

China's technological innovations in industrial energy efficiency are not only widely used domestically, but also demonstrate competitive advantages in the international market. For example, the 2025 Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) report released by Nanocore Micro (688052) mentioned that the company has made significant progress in the field of high-efficiency motors and frequency converters. Through the application of these technologies, it has effectively reduced industrial energy consumption and improved production efficiency.

Policy support and market guidance

The Chinese government has increased policy support for industrial energy efficiency in recent years. By formulating strict energy efficiency standards and providing financial subsidies and technical support, enterprises are encouraged to adopt more efficient energy technologies and equipment in the production process.

In China, improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector has become one of the important indicators of corporate sustainable development. Many companies actively disclose their efforts and results in energy efficiency and environmental protection by implementing ESG reporting systems to enhance market competitiveness and social responsibility.

Policy measures for energy efficiency in European industry

Taylor Wessing reports on the European Commission’s approval of industrial electricity tariff policy in April 2026. The policy aims to encourage companies to adopt more efficient energy technologies and equipment by adjusting industrial electricity prices, thereby reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

This EU policy not only considers the economic costs of enterprises, but also emphasizes the importance of environmental protection. Through reasonable electricity price adjustments, the EU hopes to encourage companies to accelerate the pace of energy efficiency improvements and promote green transformation in the industrial sector.

Typical case analysis: Fuerth Sustainable Development Lighthouse Factory

Siemens' report introduces the practices of the sustainable lighthouse factory in Fürth. The factory achieves refined management and efficient utilization of energy through the use of advanced energy management systems, smart sensors and automation technology.

Markus Schäfer, member of the Management Board of Siemens AG, said: "The Fürth Lighthouse plant is an important step towards achieving our sustainability goals. Through technological innovation, we not only reduce energy consumption, but also increase production efficiency, creating greater value for the enterprise."

future outlook

Improving industrial energy efficiency is a key link in achieving global sustainable development goals. With the continuous advancement of technology and continued policy support, energy efficiency in the industrial sector will be further improved. Practice in China and Europe shows that through technological innovation and policy guidance, industrial enterprises can achieve dual improvements in economic benefits and social responsibility while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

In the future, the improvement of industrial energy efficiency will continue to be the focus of industry development. Enterprises need to keep up with the technological frontier and actively adopt and apply innovative technologies to cope with increasingly stringent environmental protection requirements and market changes.