What is solar energy?

As the sun burns the hydrogen at its core, it releases immense amounts of energy. This energy is radiated to the Earth in the form of heat and light. We use the term “solar energy” to describe our ability to harness this energy through man-made devices.

Putting the sun’s energy to work is not new. Solar technologies — some primitive, some more advanced — have been used in all ages and every part of the world. A hundred years ago, pioneer families in North America painted tanks black and placed them in sunny areas to heat water for domestic use. This method is still used in many warm countries.

But the invention and development of modern solar technologies goes back only 40 or 50 years. As a result of these technologies, the possibilities for solar energy are expanding as mankind searches for innovative ways to harness solar energy to warm houses, heat water and air and generate electricity.