As zero-carbon industrial parks become a key focus of global green industrial transformation, China has outlined an ambitious goal to build approximately 100 national-level zero-carbon parks during its 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030, creating vast opportunities for low-carbon industries. 

As one of China's first carbon peaking pilot zones and Anhui's inaugural national eco-industrial demonstration park, the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone leverages its strengths in science and innovation to overcome transitional challenges through institutional reform, technological breakthroughs, and smart management. Since the start of this year, the zone has delivered a series of landmark outcomes, offering practical references for industrial green transformation.

In 2025, the zone prioritized the construction of zero-carbon parks and factories, dynamically updating its carbon peaking project library and disbursing over 100 million yuan ($14.17 million) in incentives to support photovoltaic applications and energy-saving upgrades. Innovative products such as dual-carbon loans and carbon credit loans were launched, providing no less than 2 billion yuan in intended financing to support enterprises in reducing carbon emissions. TW Solar Technology became Anhui's first "near-zero carbon factory," cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 105,500 metric tons annually. JA Solar fully adopted a system integrating PV and energy storage, with rooftop PV panels generating over 80 million kWh annually and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 56,000 metric tons.

In clean energy, the zone is advancing its initiative of building a hub for solar technology. China National Building Materials (Hefei) New Energy Resources utilizes power-generating glass facades and waste-heat recovery to produce 45 million kWh annually. The zone now hosts over 500 new energy and environmental protection enterprises, with green industry output exceeding 150 billion yuan. In ecological protection, the 2025 Banjiuyan River Ecological Restoration Project established a basin-wide smart water system to improve flood resilience and water ecology. Smart waste-sorting equipment has also been deployed for precise classification of five waste types. 

Green applications continue to expand. The CAS Hefei Institute of Technology Innovation reduces carbon by 700 metric tons annually. The Shuxi Lake Branch of Hefei Science and Technology Museum generates over 600,000 kWh yearly via rooftop PV. Midea's washing machine factory earned international carbon-neutral certification, becoming Hefei's first plant with this SGS certification.

Currently, the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone's energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP is only one-fourth of China's national average. Its innovation-driven zero-carbon pathway not only contributes to China's national zero-carbon park development, but also offers replicable practices that contribute Chinese solutions to global industrial green transformation.