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What is Solar Power?
The word solar stems from the Roman word for the god of the sun, Sol. So, the word solar refers to the sun and “solar power” is power from the sun. When we say something is solar powered, we mean that the energy it uses was converted directly from solar energy or sunlight energy. The sun provides Earth with 2 major forms of energy, heat and light. Some solar powered systems utilize the heat energy while others transform the light energy into electrical energy (electricity). We can find many uses for both forms of energy. Solar energy is often referred to as an "alternative energy" to fossil fuel energy sources such as oil and coal.