Constructing low-carbon industrial parks as well as promoting energy structure transformation and improving green production ability is critical for achieving high-quality development of China's industry. Within low-carbon industrial parks, both renewable energy power and steam consumption of industrial production exhibit frequent fluctuation. Before low-cost, large-scale, and long-period energy storage technologies are widely applied in the industry field, the preheating combustion boilers have the potential to balance fluctuation regulation. This study clarifies the energy using tendency in low-carbon industrial parks, technical characteristics of preheating combustion boilers, and adaptiveness of these boilers in industrial parks. Moreover, it reviews the technical progress and future development directions of preheating combustion boilers, and summarizes several demonstration projects implemented in China. The 60 t∙h^-1 pulverized-coal preheating combustion boiler has achieved flexible regulation within an ultra-wide load range of 10%‒100%; the 90 t∙h^-1 pulverized-coal preheating combustion boiler has realized rapid start-up without any auxiliary fuels after 46 hours of banked fire; and the 240 t∙h^-1 circulating fluidized bed boiler coupled with preheating combustion of pulverized coal has attained efficient, coordinated output of fossil energy and photovoltaic power. Future research should prioritize technological breakthroughs in biomass preheated combustion boilers, hydrogen and ammonia co-firing or pure combustion in preheating combustion boilers, coordination of boiler start-stop and green heat supply, as well as O₂/CO₂ preheating combustion of pulverized coal, aiming to enhance the technical capabilities of preheating combustion boilers and provide a comprehensive support for the development of zero-carbon industrial parks.