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For billions of years, the sun has poured out huge amounts of energy in several forms, including light, heat, radio waves, and even x-ray. The Earth, in orbit around the sun, intercepts a very small part of the sun’s immense output. On Earth, direct sunlight is available from sunrise until sunset, except during solar eclipses. Solar collectors and modules are designed to capture some of the sun’s energy and change it from radiation into more usable forms such as heat or electricity. In fact, sunlight is an excellent source of heat and electricity, the two most important forms of energy we consume.

Geothermal energy supplies less than 10 % of the world's energy.

Geothermal energy is clean and safe for the surrounding environment.

Geothermal energy is sustainable because hot water can be re-injected into the ground.

Quick and interesting facts related to solar energy.  For more terms and explanations, consult our solar glossary. One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. One kilowatt-hour (kWh) equals the amount of electricity needed to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours. A sunny location (like Los Angeles, California, US) receives an average of 5.5 hours of sunlight per day each year. A cloudy location (like Hamburg, Germany) receives 2.5 hours per day of sunlight each year. A 1 kilowatt peak solar system generates around 1,600 kilowatt hours per year in a sunny climate and about 750 kilowatt hours per year in a cloudy climate. A solar energy system can provide electricity 24 hours a day when the solar electric modules are combined with batteries in one integrated energy system. Solar modules produce electricity even on cloudy days, usually around 10-20% of the amount produced on sunny days. The typical components of a solar home system include the solar module, an inverter, a battery, a charge controller (sometimes known as a regulator), wiring, and support structure. A typical silicon cell solar module will have a life in excess of 20 years Monthly average residential consumption of electricity in the US in 2008 was 920 kilowatt hours. (Source: US DOE) Monthly average residential electricity bill in the US in 2008 was $103.67. (Source: US DOE)  

One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. One kilowatt-hour (kWh) equals the amount of electricity needed to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours. A sunny location (like Los Angeles, California, US) receives an average of 5.5 hours of sunlight per day each year. A cloudy location (like Hamburg, Germany) receives 2.5 hours per day of sunlight each year. A 1 kilowatt peak solar system generates around 1,600 kilowatt hours per year in a sunny climate and about 750 kilowatt hours per year in a cloudy climate. A solar energy system can provide electricity 24 hours a day when the solar electric modules are combined with batteries in one integrated energy system. Solar modules produce electricity even on cloudy days, usually around 10-20% of the amount produced on sunny days. The typical components of a solar home system include the solar module, an inverter, a battery, a charge controller (sometimes known as a regulator), wiring, and support structure. A typical silicon cell solar module will have a life in excess of 20 years Monthly average residential consumption of electricity in the US in 2008 was 920 kilowatt hours. (Source: US DOE) Monthly average residential electricity bill in the US in 2008 was $103.67. (Source: US DOE)

hen a modern day person hears the term “solar energy” they often think about solar panels that are mounted on roofs in sunny neighborhoods. Find out how to slash your electric bill by 75% with little out of pocket expense. Although this is a part of solar energy, there is much more to it.

But, on shore ocean wave energy generators will occupy extended lengths of coastline. And most of the coastlines of the world that have significant wave activity are either highly desired residential areas, or they are pristine wilderness.

Ocean wave energy is still in the development stages but it is already apparent that its impact on the environment could be relatively high compared to other renewable energies.

It is noteworthy that even these environmental impacts are far less than those of most fossil fuel plants.

1 MW of wind energy can offset approximately 2,600 tons Waste heat recovery  file size 4MB of carbon dioxide annually.

29,440 Megawatts (MW) of wind energy are currently installed in the United States, and an additional 5,866 MW are under construction.Over 8,500 MW were installed in the US in 2008 (just beating out China with 6,300 MW). This represents: 50 percent increase from 200742 percent of all new generating capacity installed in 2008$17 billion investment44 million tons of carbon emissions avoided (equivalent of 7 million cars)35,000 new jobs

Wind is a clean source of renewable energy that produces no air or water pollution.

Wind is the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. In fact, wind exists because the sun unevenly heats the surface of the Earth. As hot air rises, cooler air moves in to fill the void. As long as the sun shines, the wind will blow. And as long as the wind blows, people will harness it to power their lives.

The wind spins the blades, which turn a shaft connected to a generator that produces electricity. Other turbines work the same way, but the turbine is on a vertical axis and the blades look like a giant egg beater.

Every hour the sun beams onto Earth more than enough energy to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun's energy and make it useable. Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand.