Scienceville
Sustainable Energy
The Sun, the wind, the tides and even the heat deep inside the Earth can power our lights and fans. Let's meet some clever ways people catch clean energy!
Did you know?
In 2015, Cochin International Airport in Kochi, Kerala, became the world's first airport to run fully on solar power. Rows of solar panels near the airport make its electricity.
The Moon helps make electricity! Its pull causes ocean tides. In 1966, France opened the world's first tidal power station on the Rance River, where moving tidal water spins turbines (giant fan-like wheels).
In Iceland, at least 9 out of 10 homes are heated with geothermal energy: hot water from deep underground, warmed by the heat inside the Earth.
Try this: The sun-catcher race
Place one ice cube on a sheet of black paper and another, the same size, on white paper. Keep both in bright sunlight. Check every five minutes. Which cube melts first? Dark colours soak up more of the Sun's energy, which is why solar water heaters usually have dark-coloured panels or pipes.
Go further: How a solar panel makes electricity
A solar panel is made of many solar cells, usually made of silicon, a material found in sand. When sunlight hits a cell, it gives tiny particles called electrons a push, and moving electrons are electricity! This is called the photovoltaic effect: 'photo' means light, and 'voltaic' is linked to electricity. At night there is no sunlight, so some homes store extra daytime energy in batteries.