The question of MAO with high energy consumption limits its further application inindustrial field. From the perspective of the electrolyte, the question was focused on and a design method was brought out. The method to choose basic electrolyte and additions of low energy consumption MAO electrolyte was discussed and AZ31 magnesium alloy was chosen as raw material to have a MAO treatment in order to verify the design method. The resultsed show that energy consumption per unit volume of the coating was much lowered in the electrolyte which was designed under the guide of the design method. This made the industrialization of MAO technology could be realized.