On October 14, during a press conference held by the Shanxi Provincial Government’s Information Office, Deputy Director of the Shanxi Development and Reform Commission, Zhang Xiang, shared significant progress made in the province’s energy reforms since it became the first region in China to be approved as a comprehensive energy revolution pilot zone in 2019.
Zhang highlighted that Shanxi has taken the lead nationally in intelligent coal mining, with over 50% of its coal production capacity now utilizing smart extraction technologies. The province is focusing on the construction of “five major bases,” strengthening collaboration and advancing various pilot projects related to the energy revolution.
In terms of energy supply, Shanxi has established 30 pilot demonstration coal mines for green mining, with advanced coal production accounting for nearly 82%. The province has maintained the top coal production in the country for four consecutive years. Additionally, Shanxi ranks second in the nation for power exports, delivering 157.6 billion kWh of electricity in 2023 to 23 provinces.
The province has seen rapid growth in renewable and clean energy sources, with installed capacity accounting for 48% by the end of August this year, an increase of 14.1 percentage points since 2019. Unconventional natural gas production reached a historical high of 14.59 billion cubic meters in 2023, more than doubling its output since 2019. Furthermore, hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks have successfully operated in purely commercial capacities for medium distances for the first time.
As a major energy-producing region, Shanxi is also focused on carbon reduction initiatives. Data shows that in the first three years of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the province’s energy consumption intensity decreased by 10.9%, ranking among the top in the country. Shanxi has established 115 national-level green factories.
Zhang noted that Shanxi has completed the “three reforms and a linkage” for coal-fired power units, reaching 65.65 million kilowatts, with all active coal power units meeting gas-fired emission standards. Furthermore, all steel production facilities have undergone ultra-low emission transformations, and over 96% of the coking industry’s advanced capacity adheres to stringent standards, with new urban buildings all complying with green building standards.
Additionally, Shanxi ranks sixth in the nation for electricity usage efficiency in computational power centers and has implemented a pioneering integrated project that combines slope treatment with solar power generation. The province has also promoted the “expressway plus photovoltaic” model, with Zhangshang Village in Yuncheng becoming the first “Zero Carbon Village” demonstration site in China.
In the field of energy technology, the Huairou Laboratory of the Shanxi Research Institute has been fully launched, Huawei’s global headquarters for coal mining has been established in Taiyuan, and the first industrial internet platform for coal has gone live. Notably, the world’s first methanol-electric hybrid vehicle, a new methanol tractor, and China’s first hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive have been released from production. Shanxi has certified the first batch of 10 demonstration bases for technology transfer in coal-based innovations, and established 97 energy technology innovation platforms at or above the provincial level.
In terms of energy system reforms, Shanxi has pioneered the operation of an electricity spot market nationwide and achieved significant breakthroughs in the exploration system for coalbed methane, as well as initiating pilot programs for simultaneous coal and aluminum production. The development of climate investment and financing pilot projects in Taiyuan and Changzhi is progressing in an orderly fashion.
On the international cooperation front, Shanxi has partnered with organizations such as the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank to implement several green low-carbon development demonstration projects. The export market for “new three items”—electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products—is growing rapidly, with solar cell exports from January to August experiencing a remarkable increase of 225.3% compared to the previous year.
