In the context of global energy scarcity and environmental degradation, the development of new energy has become an important means to change the world energy landscape and help countries achieve carbon reduction. Therefore, scholars from various countries have conducted extensive research on the rise and growth of the new energy industry. After reviewing relevant literature, it can be seen that scholars at home and abroad have focused more on the development, policies, and spatial evolution characteristics of the new energy industry.
The development of new energy can effectively alleviate the energy crisis and solve certain environmental problems. Therefore, scholars at home and abroad have conducted in-depth research on the rise and development of the new energy industry. The research on the development of the new energy industry by foreign scholars began in 1983. William&Brian demonstrated the importance of developing the new energy industry for New Zealand by analyzing the current situation of the energy industry in New Zealand. The research suggests that New Zealand’s environmental problems are largely influenced by the types, quantities, and usage of energy consumption, And it is recommended that the government formulate relevant energy strategy goals and laws to address the environmental problems caused by energy consumption; Pablo del Rio (2007) focused on the solar photovoltaic industry in the new energy industry and conducted a systematic analysis of Spain’s solar photovoltaic power generation industry. He believed that among all energy industries in Spain, the solar photovoltaic power generation industry is in a relatively disadvantaged state, mainly due to high development costs, significant financial obstacles, and administrative management issues; Scholars have proposed different directions for the development of the new energy industry based on the current energy situation in different countries. For example, for Denmark, as a deserving kingdom of wind energy, it relies on its abundant wind energy resources to vigorously develop a new energy industry mainly based on wind energy; Ucilia Wang emphasized the analysis of the new energy market in the United States, believing that the development of solar photovoltaics has largely caused changes in the new energy market. Therefore, the United States should pay more attention to the development of the solar photovoltaic industry; The development of Europe’s new energy industry started early and has a high level of technology. The development of Europe’s new energy industry is at a leading level in the world, whether it is wind power, solar photovoltaic, or biomass energy. Among them, Germany and Spain have a wide range of applications for wind and solar photovoltaic power generation, while Denmark, Finland and other countries have a wider range of applications for biomass energy; Fuel and electricity are the focus of Russia’s energy policy. Mastepanov AM has studied alternative solutions for the development of electricity in Russia, as well as the economic and ecological rational utilization of nuclear power plants, hydropower, and non-traditional renewable energy. He believes that nuclear power will become a very important component of Russia’s fuel and electricity industry; SUWA et al. believe that Japan’s new energy industry lacks technological innovation in development and requires strong and effective methods to implement innovation policies. At the same time, it is necessary to expand the utilization of new energy to include resources such as wind energy, geothermal energy, and solar photovoltaic. At the consumer end of the new energy industry, corresponding adjustments should be made to the development of the new energy industry based on the public’s preferences and willingness to purchase new energy. Li Shufeng (2009) believes that the key issue in the development of China’s new energy industry is technological backwardness, and the main problem affecting its technological progress is uncertainty. To this day, many scholars still believe that technological backwardness is an important factor restricting China’s new energy development. Zhang Hongxia and Zhang Yanjie (2022) conducted a study on the development of new energy in China and found that there are three main problems in the development of China’s new energy industry: firstly, the problem of standardization in the new energy industry is prominent; secondly, the level of research and development in new energy technology is insufficient; and thirdly, the planning and management of the new energy industry is inefficient. Regarding the development of new energy in China, many scholars have put forward relevant suggestions. Chen Guoping, Dong Yu, and Liang Zhifeng (2020) summarized the current situation and situation of new energy development in China, analyzed the challenges faced by new energy development under the background of energy transformation, and believed that China can selectively learn from foreign measures to promote high proportion of new energy access to develop the domestic new energy industry. Lai Li and Zhang Jingxin (2022) believe that China’s new energy industry has high technological content, strong industrial driving force, and huge market development potential. It is a key area that supports carbon peaking, carbon neutrality, and leads sustained economic growth. They propose a “five in one” industrial innovation system to promote the development of China’s new energy industry, including innovation in industrial chain supply chain models, product application scenarios, and green economic and trade rules Key decarbonization resource management innovation and government policy support innovation.
The development of the new energy industry is different from that of the traditional energy industry, and the development of the new energy industry relies more on the support of national policies. Many scholars at home and abroad have conducted in-depth research on policies related to the new energy industry, mainly including the study of policies related to finance, taxation, environment, subsidies, etc. in the energy industry. Song (2011) conducted a study on the impact of new energy policies on new energy production in 26 OECD countries. It is believed that the implementation effect of new energy policies in the hydropower and geothermal energy industries is significant, while the impact of national policies on new energy industries such as solar photovoltaic, wind energy, and biomass energy is relatively small, and the implementation effect is not significant; Verma et al. (2018) conducted a systematic analysis of New Zealand’s new energy policy and concluded that it should cover more economic sectors to expand the scope of implementation of new energy efficiency policies; Bian Wenyue et al. (2019) conducted relevant research on the energy policies of major developed countries in the world, and believed that an important common feature of energy policies among countries is the diversification of energy and the clean and efficient utilization of energy; In addition to studying policies related to the new energy industry from a comprehensive perspective, many scholars have also conducted more targeted research on a certain type of policy in the new energy industry, such as finance, taxation, environment, subsidies, etc. In terms of financial and tax policies, Wang Xi et al. (2011) chose to study the financial and tax policies related to the new energy industry. They systematically sorted and analyzed the financial and tax policies, and found that providing corresponding subsidies and incentives in the investment, technology research and development, production, and consumption stages of the new energy industry is more conducive to the development of the new energy industry; Zhang Bo (2014) evaluated the role of fiscal policy in the development of the new energy industry using the Hotelling spatial competition model. The study showed that fiscal policy has a significant promoting effect on the development of the new energy industry and is an important policy tool for promoting the development of the new energy industry [24]. In terms of financial policies, Xu Feng (2013) chose to study the financial policies related to the new energy industry. The study found that for China’s new energy industry, financial policies are an important constraint factor for industrial development. It is recommended that the country attach importance to the improvement and support of financial policies related to the new energy industry; Shahrouz&Abolhosseini et al. (2014) found through their research that financial policies have a significant promoting effect on all new energy policies. This promoting effect is also reflected in promoting technological innovation in the new energy industry, reducing costs through technological progress, and promoting industrial development and environmental protection; Cihat K ö ksal et al. (2021) explored the role of financial policies in new energy industry policies based on data from 36 OECD countries, with a focus on analyzing the impact of financial policy efficiency on demand. In terms of environmental policies, Feng Zhuo (2013) studied the environmental regulatory policies in the new energy industry, mainly discussing the impact of environmental regulatory policies in the energy industry on the development of the new energy industry from the perspective of industrial competitiveness; Peng Wenbing et al. (2018) explored green support policies in the new energy industry and discussed the role of government green support policies in the development of the new energy industry from a macro perspective; Xu Le et al. (2019) mainly studied the impact of policy effects on new energy technology innovation, and believed that factors such as policy formulation levels, policy implementation regions, and industry characteristics will affect policy benefits; In terms of subsidy policies, Kyoung Kuk Kim&Chi Guhn Lee (2012) found through research that the fixed electricity price mechanism in subsidy policies has a significant enhancing effect on the market competitiveness of the new energy industry. The use of price subsidy policies is an effective policy approach in promoting the development of the new energy industry. In response to the current development status of China’s new energy industry, Wang Zhitong and Du Ke (2022) proposed corresponding policy suggestions based on the current situation of China’s new energy industry development. They believe that in terms of fiscal policy, the proportion of fiscal investment should be increased, the fiscal subsidy system should be improved, and special funds for the new energy industry should be established; In terms of tax policies, we should expand the scope of tax incentives, enrich the tax incentive system, and improve the level of tax incentives. Wu Jinming (2022) believes that due to the late start of China’s new energy industry and the large amount of funds required, the government has always maintained a supportive attitude towards new energy enterprises. The government should shift from financial support to financial and tax policy support, mainly using fiscal and tax means to support the long-term development of the new energy industry.
In recent years, research on the spatial evolution characteristics of the new energy industry has also become a key research direction for many scholars. Some scholars analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the new energy industry from the perspective of technological innovation capabilities, while others use geographical methods to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of the new energy industry. Cai Ping and Wang Qiang (2022) analyzed the evolution characteristics and influencing factors of technological innovation level in the water resources industry of 290 prefecture level and above cities based on the number of patent applications and patent transfers in China’s water resources industry from 2003 to 2020, using methods such as Markov chain and spatial econometric models. From the perspective of geographical economy, Ma Shuyan, Zhao Zuoxiang, and Wang Guiling (2022) analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of national high-tech zones from 1988 to 2019 using methods such as standard deviation ellipse and kernel density estimation. Based on the method of geographic detectors, they analyzed the main driving factors affecting the spatial distribution of China’s high-tech zones. Research has found that national high-tech zones exhibit a clustering distribution trend, with a decreasing quantity gradient from east to west. Secondly, the focus of the National High tech Zone is expanding towards the southwest direction, with a shrinking distribution range, forming a spatial pattern dominated by the northeast southwest direction, and the clustering trend is constantly strengthening. Yang Guanghui and Zheng Puyang (2023) empirically tested the spatial spillover effect of energy technology innovation on regional green economic efficiency by constructing static and dynamic spatial Durbin models and using panel data from 285 prefecture level and above cities in China from 2011 to 2020. They proposed suggestions for building an energy technology innovation ecosystem and building regional energy technology innovation industry clusters.