Foreign media report that plunging oil prices have always been seen as the bane of clean energy companies. The recent sharp decline in crude oil prices has also caused a steep drop in the share prices of some of the world's * well-known renewable energy groups.

According to the UK Financial Times on 12 19, after OPEC decided not to cut production at the end of 11, the share price of Danish company Vestas plummeted—the current decline still reaches 11%, significantly underperforming the broader stock market. Vestas is the world's ** supplier of wind turbine generators.

Two other stocks fell even more: Chinese solar panel giant Yingli Green Energy and US electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors. Even though crude oil prices unexpectedly rose by 3 USD on 12 17, reaching 63.4 USD per barrel, this failed to halt the decline in these two companies' stocks.

Before OPEC made its decision not to cut production, falling oil prices seemed to already be impacting the US hybrid vehicle market. In 11, US hybrid vehicle sales decreased year-on-year by 11%. Meanwhile, sales of some high-fuel-consumption SUVs increased year-on-year by 91%.

This trend may be less pronounced in other developed countries, as taxes account for a larger proportion of retail gasoline prices in these countries compared to the US. Some analysts say the market has overreacted regarding companies involved in wind and solar energy.

However, a bigger question is what impact prolonged low crude oil prices will have on global clean energy investment. Such investment has risen from 600 hundred million USD in 2004 to 2510 hundred million USD in 2013.