Solar energy is energy directly from the Sun. This energy drives the climate and weather and supports virtually all life on Earth.


Heat and light from the sun, along with solar-based resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available flow of renewable energy.

Solar energy technologies harness the sun's energy for practical ends. These technologies date from the time of the early Greeks, Native Americans and Chinese, who warmed their buildings by orienting them toward the sun. Modern solar technologies provide heating, lighting, electricity and even flight.

Solar power is used synonymously with solar energy or more specifically to refer to the conversion of sunlight into electricity. This can be done either through the photovoltaic effect or by heating a transfer fluid to produce steam to run a generator.

Solar Photovoltaic Cycle 1

Solar Photovoltaic Cycle 2

Solar Thermal Power Cycle

Solar photovoltaics provided 0.04% of the world's energy usage in 2004