Inner Mongolia outlines energy strategy to boost supply, accelerate green transition

North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has set out an agenda for its energy sector in 2026, aiming to reinforce its role as a national energy base while advancing a transition toward cleaner and more efficient development, local authorities said at a press conference on March 20.

According to Cao Siyang, head of the region's energy administration, Inner Mongolia will continue to strengthen its coal supply capacity while expanding renewable energy at scale.

Three new coal mines with a combined capacity of 23 million metric tons are scheduled to begin construction this year, while two mines totaling 9.2 million tons will be put into operation.

Authorities are also seeking approval for an additional five projects with a combined capacity of 47 million tons. The region's annual coal output is expected to remain stable at around 1.25 billion tons.

Meanwhile, more than 5 million kilowatts of new coal-fired power capacity will be added, alongside the accelerated development of oil projects including the Bayan oilfield.

Renewable energy is set to play an increasingly prominent role. The region's total power generation is projected to reach 910 billion kilowatt-hours in 2026, with renewables contributing more than 300 billion kWh, accounting for about one-third of the total. Electricity exports are expected to exceed 360 billion kWh, including 100 billion kWh of green power.

The region will also step up construction of large-scale wind and solar bases in desert areas and accelerate grid expansion, with more than 20 transmission projects of 500 kilovolts or above and over 7 million kW of new energy storage capacity planned to improve integration and reliability.

Cao said the region will place greater emphasis on balancing energy security, economic growth, and carbon reduction.

A series of policy measures introduced earlier this year aims to boost renewable energy consumption and expand direct green power supply. New electricity demand will increasingly be met by clean energy, supported by coordinated development between renewable resources and energy-intensive industries to promote local consumption.

At the same time, Inner Mongolia will accelerate the low-carbon transformation of traditional energy sectors. Pilot projects for next-generation coal power will be launched, and existing units will undergo upgrades to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

Advanced technologies such as biomass and green ammonia co-firing, as well as carbon capture, utilization, and storage, will be further explored.

Efforts will also be made to enhance methane recovery in oil and gas fields, and promote the use of carbon dioxide flooding technologies to improve efficiency while lowering emissions.

The region is also moving to foster emerging industries powered by green energy. Plans include advancing large-scale off-grid hydrogen production and expanding its application in sectors such as chemicals and metallurgy, alongside the construction of hydrogen pipelines linking key industrial hubs.

In tandem with this, Inner Mongolia is promoting the integration of energy and computing infrastructure, including the development of a zero-carbon data hub to provide stable, efficient, and renewable-powered electricity for the computing sector.

Reform and innovation are expected to play a key role in supporting high-quality development. Inner Mongolia will promote long-term power purchase agreements and refine electricity market mechanisms to facilitate renewable energy integration.

A number of demonstration projects focusing on multi-energy integration – combining wind, solar, hydrogen, and storage – are also being accelerated to deliver scalable solutions.

In 2026, Inner Mongolia plans to implement 382 major energy projects, with total investment reaching 324 billion yuan ($46.96 billion), up 8 percent year-on-year.