Solar energy

The sun is the star of our solar system and is the original source of all energy.

The sun is estimated to be more than four billion years old and is expected to burn for at least another four billion years.

Fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are decayed plants and animals that have been buried for millions of years. Those plants and animals lived because of energy from the sun.

Fossil fuels are a limited, non-renewable resource because it takes millions of years to make them.

Everyday more energy from the sun reaches the Earth than we can use. The sun is also a source of clean and abundant energy.

People have always used the sun as a source of energy - to warm themselves, grow food and to dry things like clothes and food.

We can now also use the sun to provide energy for many things by capturing its power.

Discover ways that people are capturing the power of the sun.