The Science and Technology Board Daily, December 13 — Green, low-carbon, and sustainable development are inevitable requirements for economic and social progress. At the 2025-2026 China Economic Annual Conference hosted today (December 13) by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, Han Wenxiu, Deputy Director of the Central Financial Affairs Commission Office in charge of daily operations and Director of the Central Rural Work Leading Group Office, stated that green development is the foundation of high-quality development. He emphasized the need to formulate a strategic outline for building an Energy Powerhouse, accelerate the construction of a new energy system, enhance the clean and efficient utilization of fossil fuels, and expand the application of green electricity. Next year will be the first year of fully transitioning from dual control of energy consumption to dual control of carbon emissions. Efforts should be made to steadily advance the peaking of carbon emissions, deepen energy conservation and carbon reduction transformations in key industries, strengthen the construction of a nationwide carbon emission trading market, foster new growth areas such as hydrogen energy and green fuels, and build a number of zero-carbon industrial parks and zero-carbon factories.

In the proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan in 2025, the concept of an "Energy Powerhouse" was written into the five-year plan for the first time, explicitly calling for accelerating the construction of a new energy system. This includes continuously increasing the proportion of renewable energy supply, advancing the secure, reliable, and orderly substitution of fossil fuels, focusing on building a new power system, and constructing an "Energy Powerhouse." It emphasizes a diversified energy strategy, integrating wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power, balancing local consumption with transmission, and promoting high-quality development of clean energy.

At the Central Economic Work Conference held from December 10 to 11, the "Energy Powerhouse" was confirmed as a key task for next year's economic work. The conference proposed drafting a special strategic outline for the "Energy Powerhouse," expediting the construction of a new energy system, and expanding the application of green electricity.

Based on the above top-level design statements, the primary focus of the "Energy Powerhouse" initiative is to accelerate the construction of a "new energy system." This requires adhering to a diversified energy approach, integrating wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power, continuously increasing the share of renewable energy supply, and concentrating on building a new power system supported by smart grids and advanced energy storage technologies.

How to expedite the construction of a new energy system?

The National Energy Administration recently published a signed article proposing measures such as optimizing the spatial layout of energy resource bases, accelerating the green and low-carbon energy transition, building a robust and resilient energy supply chain, and achieving high-level self-reliance in energy technology.

Among these, hydrogen energy and nuclear power are considered future energy technologies requiring forward-looking planning. AI + Energy was also mentioned, with specific measures including:

Adhering to a diversified energy approach, integrating wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power, balancing local consumption with transmission, promoting the steady large-scale development of wind and photovoltaic power generation, continuously increasing the share of renewable energy supply, advancing integrated wind, solar, and hydro development, and actively, safely, and orderly developing nuclear power to achieve a target of non-fossil energy accounting for approximately 25% of total energy consumption by 2030.

Focusing on the large-scale and high-proportion development of non-fossil energy and the clean and efficient use of fossil fuels, strengthening technological research and equipment development in advanced nuclear power, concentrated solar power, ocean energy, flexible DC transmission, and unconventional oil and gas. Proactively laying out future energy technologies and industries such as hydrogen energy and controlled nuclear fusion. Consolidating and expanding advantages in industries like renewable energy, and fostering the growth of new sectors such as "Artificial Intelligence + Energy" in emerging competitive fields.

Currently, more than 10 provinces and municipalities have included the layout of hydrogen and nuclear energy in their 15th Five-Year Plan proposals.

According to Guojin Securities, the biggest difference for hydrogen energy between the 15th and 14th Five-Year Plan periods lies in the heightened urgency of policies and the improved completeness of infrastructure. The second half of the energy revolution—decarbonization in non-electric sectors—makes hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol indispensable as key energy carriers, offering significant development opportunities for the entire industry chain. The industry is still in the early stages of commercialization, primarily driven by policy, with a focus on areas that resonate both domestically and internationally, exhibit strong demand certainty, and have high growth potential.

Industrial Securities also noted that compared to the 14th Five-Year Plan’s mention of 'implementing incubation and acceleration plans for future industries and planning the layout of a number of future industries,' the roadmap for hydrogen energy during the 15th Five-Year Plan period is clearer as it moves toward scale. The institution recommends prioritizing segments that are likely to achieve economic viability first, specifically green methanol production. It highlights companies such as Goldwind Technologies and Sungrow Power Supply, which possess green methanol production capacity, and suggests paying attention to Shuangliang Energy Saving, Sinopec Petroleum Machinery, Huadian Heavy Industries, Hemei Group, An Tai Technology, and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec).

According to the latest research report by Dagong International Credit Rating, under the continuous efforts of dual-carbon policies, wind and solar power have grown rapidly, while nuclear power has developed at a relatively slower pace. However, with increasing demands for the construction of a new power system and fluctuations in the global energy market, nuclear power, characterized by its stability, low carbon emissions, and high efficiency, is entering a critical development phase during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Continuous breakthroughs in nuclear technology, increased localization of core equipment, enhanced nuclear safety guarantees, and improvements in the nuclear regulatory system have laid a solid foundation for the accelerated development of nuclear power in China, presenting nuclear power with its best development opportunity.