As per a research report from CITIC Securities, on January 14, 2026, five departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly released the "Guidelines for Zero - Carbon Factory Construction." These guidelines set out phased objectives: beginning in 2026, benchmark zero - carbon factories will be selected; by 2027, pilot projects will be nurtured in emerging manufacturing sectors; and by 2030, the initiative will extend to traditional high - energy - consuming industries like steel and petrochemicals.

The guidelines explicitly call for the vigorous development of integrated projects involving green hydrogen, ammonia, and alcohol. They also promote the utilization of clean and low - carbon hydrogen sources, encompassing industrial by - product hydrogen and hydrogen production based on renewable energy. CITIC Securities is of the view that the policy signal is unmistakable: hydrogen energy is transitioning from transportation demonstration projects to taking center stage in the main industrial arena.

In tandem with the enforcement of overseas carbon tariff policies, the focus of industrial decarbonization during the "15th Five - Year Plan" period will pivot. Instead of solely concentrating on energy structure adjustment, there will be a dual emphasis on transforming the energy consumption structure and reengineering industrial processes.

Green hydrogen and hydrogen - based green fuels stand out as crucial solutions to tackle the challenge of "decarbonizing non - electrical energy sources." They are poised to see large - scale applications in hard - to - decarbonize sectors such as steel, non - ferrous metals, chemicals, and building materials. The synergy between policy support and market demand is set to propel the industry into a phase of accelerated development.