New energy generally refers to renewable energy developed and utilized on the basis of new technologies, including solar energy, biomass energy, hydro energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, wave energy, ocean current energy, and tidal energy, as well as thermal cycling between the ocean surface and deep layers; In addition, there are also hydrogen energy, biogas, alcohol, methanol, and other widely used energy sources such as coal, oil, natural gas, and water, known as conventional energy. With the limited availability of conventional energy and the increasing prominence of environmental issues, new energy characterized by environmental protection and renewable energy is receiving increasing attention from countries around the world.

Recently, in China, new energy sources that can form industries mainly include hydropower (mainly referring to small hydropower stations), wind energy, biomass energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, etc., which are recyclable and clean energy. The development of the new energy industry is not only an effective supplement to the entire energy supply system, but also an important measure for environmental governance and ecological protection. It is the ultimate energy choice to meet the sustainable development needs of human society.

Generally speaking, conventional energy refers to energy that is technically mature and has been extensively utilized, while new energy typically refers to energy that has not yet been extensively utilized and is actively being researched and developed. Therefore, coal, oil, natural gas, and large and medium-sized hydropower are all considered conventional energy sources, while solar energy, wind energy, modern biomass energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, as well as nuclear energy, hydrogen energy, etc. are considered new energy sources. With the advancement of technology and the establishment of the concept of sustainable development, industrial and domestic organic waste, which used to be regarded as garbage, has been re recognized and deeply researched and developed as a material for energy resource utilization. Therefore, the resource utilization of waste can also be seen as a form of new energy technology.

The energy resources that have recently been developed and utilized by humans and require further research and development are called new energy. Compared to conventional energy, new energy has different contents in different historical periods and technological levels. In today's society, new energy usually refers to nuclear energy, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydrogen, etc.

It can be classified into solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, nuclear energy, hydrogen energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, small hydropower, chemical energy (such as ether based fuels), etc.