Shanxi province will accelerate construction of a new energy system and push its transition from a major coal-producing province to an energy powerhouse during the 15th "Five-Year Plan" period, the provincial energy bureau said.

Zhang Xiang, party secretary and director of the Shanxi Provincial Energy Bureau, said at a press conference on September 10.

Deeper industry integration

Shanxi will leverage its diversified energy resources and industrial system to develop "energy plus" models, upgrading from a major exporter of energy products to a strong provider of integrated energy solutions and services.

The integration will focus on two dimensions: multi-energy coordination, including building integrated "wind-solar-thermal-storage" energy bases in resource-rich areas, developing multi-supply energy service providers offering electricity, steam, heat and cooling in industrial parks, and constructing integrated "oil-gas-electricity-hydrogen" refueling networks along major transport corridors; and upstream-downstream industrial integration, using new models such as green power direct connection, smart microgrids, virtual power plants and computing-power coordination to link energy production and consumption.

Steadier coal industry

Shanxi will adhere to a principle of "stability first, balanced entry and exit", coordinating supply security, safety and transition goals. The province will scientifically plan replacement capacity and new mines based on coal mine closure schedules and environmental constraints, improve its capacity reserve system and maintain overall stable coal production.

It will also expand intelligent coal mine construction, accelerate the application of "AI plus" in the coal sector and cultivate new quality productive forces. Downstream, Shanxi will extend its coal value chain, shifting coal from a traditional primary fuel to high-value chemical feedstock and high-end carbon-based new materials.

Newer power system

The province will accelerate construction of a flexible, intelligent, safe, and efficient new power system. Key measures include building large provincial wind and solar bases, expanding distributed new energy across multiple scenarios, and advancing biomass and geothermal development to add 100 GW of renewable capacity.

Shanxi will push the 1.5 GW Hunyuan and 1.2 GW Yuanqu pumped-storage projects into operation, rapidly scale up new-type energy storage across various technology routes, and deploy gas-fired power plants that combine peak-shaving and heating functions in coalbed methane-rich areas such as Jincheng, Luliang and Linfen.

The province will accelerate cross-provincial power transmission corridors including Datong-Huailai and the second Changnan-Jing line, build a batch of 500 kV transmission and transformation projects in central-southern load centers and wind-solar concentration areas, and upgrade weak distribution networks.

It will also deepen power market construction, pushing all types of power sources and industrial and commercial users at 10 kV and above to fully participate in the electricity market, building a "volume plus capacity" dual-driven market system and establishing a provincial power market demonstration zone.

Stronger natural gas industry

Shanxi will target natural gas output of 30 billion cubic meters and an industry value exceeding 100 billion yuan, focusing on three core areas. It will consolidate shallow coalbed methane production in the Qinshui basin by strengthening fine evaluation of remaining resources and secondary development of old wells in Jincheng, Changzhi and Jinzhong.

It will develop deep coalbed methane in the eastern Ordos basin, advancing risk exploration and large-scale development in Linfen and Luliang to form a multi-layer, multi-block replacement development pattern as a new growth pole. It will also build three equipment industrial parks in Taiyuan, Jincheng and Linfen with differentiated development to lead the province's coalbed methane equipment manufacturing industry.

Greener energy consumption

Shanxi will strengthen energy conservation and efficiency by strictly controlling project access at the source, implementing a "three-in-one" review of energy consumption, coal consumption and carbon emissions, and raising the energy efficiency and carbon performance of new projects. It will carry out a three-year campaign to upgrade energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industries.

The province will also optimize its consumption mix by strictly enforcing carbon emission replacement for "two high" projects (high energy consumption and high emission) and coal consumption substitution for new or expanded coal-fired projects in key air pollution control areas.

It will improve the accounting system for non-fossil energy electricity consumption, tighten renewable energy consumption responsibilities for key industries, introduce measures to promote non-fossil energy consumption, strengthen binding constraints on non-fossil electricity consumption for new projects, and push electrification and green power substitution for existing projects.

Zhang emphasized that the 15th "Five-Year Plan" period is a critical phase for Shanxi's energy transition, and the provincial energy bureau will advance green and low-carbon transition while safeguarding national energy security.