Notice from the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Organizing the Development of National-Level Zero-Carbon Factories

MIIT Office [2026] No. 334

To the competent authorities for industry and information technology in all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities with independent planning status, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

In order to implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and to fulfill the requirements set forth in the "Guiding Opinions on Carrying Out Zero-Carbon Factory Development" (MIIT Joint [2026] No. 13), we are initiating the development of national-level zero-carbon factories (including zero-carbon computing facilities; the same applies hereinafter). Relevant matters are notified as follows:

I. Basic Requirements

The development of zero-carbon factories refers to a process of continuously reducing carbon dioxide emissions within defined boundaries—gradually approaching near-zero levels—through emission-reduction measures such as technological innovation, structural adjustment, and management optimization. In accordance with a phased, tiered cultivation approach, we will select manufacturing enterprises and computing facilities that possess a solid foundation, clear development goals, and well-defined implementation pathways—and that commit to achieving their development targets within a specified timeframe—for inclusion in the national-level zero-carbon factory list, thereby establishing benchmarks for others to follow.

II. Application Criteria

Manufacturing enterprises and computing facilities participating in the application process (hereinafter collectively referred to as "applicant entities") must meet the following conditions:

(I) Manufacturing enterprises must possess independent legal person status or be independent accounting units treated as legal persons. They must be industrial enterprises above a designated size engaged in actual production, with an annual total energy consumption of no less than 1,000 tons of standard coal equivalent (using the equivalent value for electricity conversion), and must already be included in the national list of "Green Factories." The unit energy consumption of their primary products must meet or exceed the "Level 1" (advanced value) threshold—the highest tier—as defined by mandatory national energy consumption standards for the respective industry, as well as the "benchmark levels" specified in the *Energy Efficiency Benchmark and Baseline Levels for Key Industrial Sectors*. In cases where such standards or requirements do not exist, the entity must demonstrate an industry-leading level of performance. (II) The owner of the computing facility must be an independent legal entity with clear property rights over the facility. The facility must have well-defined and complete physical boundaries, possess independent power supply/distribution and cooling systems, and have a scale of no fewer than 3,000 standard racks (this requirement does not apply to intelligent computing centers). Furthermore, its Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) must meet Level 2 or higher as specified in the *Minimum Allowable Values of Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency Grades for Data Centers* (GB 40879—2021), and it must be included in the national list of green computing facilities (formerly the national list of green data centers).

(III) Applicants must meet the basic requirements for the core indicators listed below (see Appendix 1 for detailed definitions) and commit to achieving the annual targets for these indicators as set out in their construction plan, ensuring that all core indicator targets are met within the construction period (no later than 2030). The core indicators are as follows:

1. Carbon emissions per unit of energy consumption: The basic requirement is no more than 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of standard coal equivalent; the target requirement is no more than 0.2 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of standard coal equivalent.

2. Share of non-fossil energy consumption: The basic requirement is no less than 30%; the target requirement is no less than 95%.

3. Share of physically verified non-fossil energy electricity consumption: The basic requirement is no less than 10% (no basic requirement is set for computing facilities); the target requirement is no less than 35%. This indicator applies to applicants with an annual electricity consumption exceeding 5 million kWh.

(IV) Applicants must establish a carbon emission accounting system. Data—including carbon emission figures—must adhere to the principles of being measurable, reportable, and verifiable, ensuring that the information is authentic, accurate, complete, and reliable.

(V) Applicants must possess a clear development strategy and concrete measures for energy conservation and carbon reduction. They must also have established comprehensive management systems—covering quality, environment, energy, and occupational health and safety—along with sound operational management policies and a strong overall business and management standing. (VI) In the past three years, the entity must not have been involved in any of the following: occurrence of a major or more serious accident—including those related to safety (such as cybersecurity, data security, or production safety), quality, or environmental pollution; engagement in monopolistic practices as defined by the *Anti-Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China*; identification of serious issues during inspections or oversight activities conducted by the State Council or relevant government departments; inclusion on a list for industrial energy-saving rectification without having completed the required corrective actions; inclusion on a list of entities with poor records or untrustworthy conduct in telecommunications business operations; receipt of a significant administrative penalty from a competent authority; designation as a "dishonest judgment debtor" (a party failing to fulfill legal obligations as determined by a court); or being held legally liable by a final, effective legal judgment in disputes concerning intellectual property rights (such as patents, trademarks, or copyrights) or other ownership or usage rights.

III. Organization and Implementation

(I) Organization of Applications. Provincial-level competent authorities for industry and information technology shall organize eligible entities—on a voluntary basis—to submit their application materials via the "Industrial Energy Conservation and Green Development Management Platform" (https://green.miit.gov.cn; hereinafter referred to as the "Management Platform"). Applicants must refer to the *Outline for Zero-Carbon Factory Construction Plans* (Annex 2) and the requirements of the *Evaluation Indicator System* when preparing their submissions. These materials will serve as the primary basis for subsequent monitoring, evaluation, and final acceptance. Applicants are responsible for the authenticity and accuracy of the information provided and must ensure that the materials contain no state secrets or commercial secrets.

(II) Review and Recommendation. Provincial-level competent authorities for industry and information technology shall rigorously review whether applicants meet the eligibility criteria, and verify the authenticity, accuracy, and completeness of the provided data and supporting documentation. Based on this review, they shall select the best candidates for recommendation, complete the *Summary Table of Recommendations* (Annex 3), and submit the summary table along with the application materials to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization) no later than August 15, 2026.

(III) Evaluation and Announcement. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will organize experts to evaluate the application materials. Taking into account factors such as the foundation for construction, the proposed construction pathway, and expected outcomes, the Ministry will select the entities to be included in the national-level "Zero-Carbon Factory" list and announce them in accordance with established procedures.

(IV) Construction Management. Entities included in the national-level "zero-carbon factory" development list shall conduct self-assessments based on the annual targets and key tasks defined in their development plans. They are required to periodically submit updates on their development progress, changes in core indicators, and relevant performance data via the designated management platform. Should adjustments to a development plan become necessary—due to changes in production capacity (such as shifts in the scale of computing power infrastructure) or energy supply conditions—the entity must ensure that the originally declared targets remain achievable. Any such adjustments must be incorporated into an updated development plan, which shall then be submitted to the provincial-level competent authority for industry and information technology for review, before being reported to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization) through the management platform. Provincial-level competent authorities for industry and information technology shall strengthen their guidance and supervision of the listed entities, establish a routine tracking mechanism to stay informed of development progress, and summarize successful experiences and effective practices. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will conduct periodic spot checks and verifications of the entities under development.

(V) Evaluation and Acceptance. Provincial-level competent authorities for industry and information technology shall organize evaluations for entities that have completed their development tasks. Once an entity’s application for acceptance is approved at the provincial level, it shall be submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization). Adhering to the principle of "accepting batches as they reach maturity," the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will periodically organize acceptance procedures, comprehensively assessing the achievement of core indicator targets, overall development outcomes, and the entity's broader impact. Entities that pass the acceptance process will be officially designated as national-level "zero-carbon factories." Those that fail to pass the acceptance process by the end of the designated development period will be removed from the national-level "zero-carbon factory" development list in accordance with established procedures.

(VI) Summarization and Promotion. National-level "zero-carbon factories" shall continue to disclose their annual progress in meeting core indicators, as well as the implementation of other energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives, to consolidate and enhance their development achievements. Provincial-level competent authorities for industry and information technology should effectively leverage policies—such as those for technical upgrades and green finance—to provide targeted support for the development of zero-carbon factories. Regions with the necessary conditions are encouraged to develop their own provincial-level zero-carbon factory programs. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will publicize exemplary practices from zero-carbon factories and promote comprehensive service models and systematic solutions covering areas such as zero-carbon factory design, financing, retrofitting, and management.