An aerial view of Jinshan Smart Manufacturing Park, a green and low-carbon smart industrial park in Ningbo. [Photo/Yongpai App]

Ningbo's integrated electricity-energy-carbon service model for industrial parks has been selected as a national best-practice case in China's 2026 Business Environment Development Report, highlighting the city's efforts to support advanced manufacturing and low-carbon industrial growth.

This model, developed by the State Grid Ningbo Power Supply Company, combines electricity supply planning with energy-efficiency management and carbon-reduction services for industrial parks and manufacturers. Instead of providing only grid connection services, power companies now offer businesses tailored solutions covering energy use, electricity pricing, carbon accounting, and emissions reduction.

The approach reflects Ningbo's position as one of China's major manufacturing hubs. Industrial parks contribute around 60 percent of the city's GDP, while annual electricity consumption exceeded 124 billion kilowatt-hours in 2025, among the highest in Zhejiang province. Around 70 percent of that power demand comes from industry.

Under the program, energy infrastructure is planned alongside the construction of industrial parks. Shared energy storage systems, centralized cooling and heating networks, rooftop solar panels, and smart energy management platforms are integrated into park operations before companies move in.

For manufacturers, the system is designed to lower operating costs and simplify green upgrades. Ningbo Xiayi Electromechanical Technology Co, a company based in one of the participating parks, said energy pipelines and supporting facilities were already connected before production equipment arrived, helping reduce overall energy costs by about 8 percent.

The service also includes carbon monitoring and reporting support for exporters facing overseas carbon regulations such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Since 2025, the model has been introduced in 12 industrial parks in Ningbo, benefiting more than 700 companies.