A slower world economic growth rate, especially a serious economic recession in some of the world's major economies since the outbreak of the global financial crisis, has caused worldwide demand for energy consumption to drop drastically.

Against the backdrop of an unprecedented financial crisis in a century, all countries have made all-out efforts to find new areas for economic growth in an effort to pull out of the ongoing crisis and rejuvenate their economies. In this process, the new energy industry has been extensively considered as a new locomotive to drive a new round of economic growth.

Since the outbreak of the global financial tsunami, many countries in the world, developed ones in particular, have made great efforts to boost the development of their new energy sector, hoping that such a move would help them survive the prolonged economic winter. In doing so, they aspire to take a strategic initiative in future global economic development, and on such global issues as energy and climate change. The ongoing financial crisis has not stopped the accelerated development of the world's new energy industry. On the contrary, the crisis has expedited its burgeoning development and given rise to an accompanying market competition.