Solar Energy Facts for Kids

A picture of a house with solar panels

This web page contains solar energy facts for kids and is an excellent resource for anyone of any age looking to learn about this sustainable energy source. Our goal is to provide you with accurate, up to date facts about solar energy. In addition to facts about solar energy, we provide additional resources to help you with your research on solar energy.

The solar energy facts below will help you learn about solar energy, if solar energy is sustainable, how much solar energy is available, what solar energy can be used for and other solar energy related facts. We hope these solar energy facts are interesting and help you learn more about this clean, sustainable energy resource.

If any of the below solar energy facts are inaccurate, please contact us and let us know.

22 Solar Energy Facts for Kids

  1. Solar energy is obtained from the radiant light and heat from the Sun.
  2. Solar energy is a sustainable energy resource.
  3. Solar energy is a safe, clean energy resource and emits fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels.
  4. Solar energy is the cheapest source of energy on our planet.
  5. Solar energy is the largest source of energy on our planet.
  6. Solar energy can be used to generate electricity (solar power), heat water and buildings (solar heating), treat water (solar distillation), cooking and many other things.
  7. A solar power system converts sunlight to electricity for use in a home or business.
  8. A solar hot water system uses the heat produced by sunlight to heat water.
  9. A solar thermal collector can use the heat produced by sunlight to warm a home or business.
  10. A solar distillation system uses the heat and UV radiation produced by the Sun the disinfect water.
  11. A solar cooker is used to cook food and can reach temperatures between 194 and 302 Fahrenheit.
  12. The amount of energy that the Earth absorbs from the Sun annually is 3.85 million exajoules.
  13. The amount of energy that the Earth absorbs from the Sun in just one hour is enough for the entire energy usage worldwide in 2002.
  14. We only need to capture 0.02% of the Sun’s energy to meet the current energy needs of the entire planet.
  15. With all the potential in solar energy only 1.3% of the power generated in 2016 was from solar energy.
  16. As of 2019, the largest solar power station in the world was Pavagada Solar Park in India.
  17. French physicist Edmond Becquerel invented the first photovoltaic cell (solar cell) in 1839.
  18. French inventor Augustin Mouchot invented the first solar-powered engine in 1878.
  19. American inventor Charles Fritts invented the first solid state photovoltaic cell (solar cell) in 1883.
  20. Bell Laboratories created the first practical photovoltaic cell (solar cell) in 1954.
  21. The NASA satellite Vanguard 1 became the first spacecraft to use solar cells to generate power in 1958.
  22. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), around a third of the world’s energy requirements could be met by 2060 using solar energy.

Additional Resources with Solar Energy Facts

  • The Basics of Solar Energy – Learn about the basics of solar energy on the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory website.
  • Solar Energy – Read about the benefits of solar energy on the U.S. Department of Energy website.
  • Solar Explained – Find more facts about solar energy on the U.S. Energy Information Administration website.