Meaning & use
solar energy
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
Energy that comes from the sun's light and heat, often captured and turned into electricity or used for heating.
Grammar: Uncountable; no plural. Use 'a lot of' or 'much' rather than 'many'.
Patterns
- solar energy from something
- use solar energy
- produce solar energy
Many homes now use solar energy to heat water.
Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of power.
The government is investing in solar energy to reduce carbon emissions.
Common combinations
- solar energy system
- They installed a solar energy system on their roof.
- solar energy industry
- The solar energy industry is growing rapidly.
- solar energy project
- The solar energy project will power thousands of homes.
- solar energy costs
- Solar energy costs have fallen in recent years.
Synonyms and how they differ
- solar power
- Often used interchangeably, but 'solar power' specifically refers to electricity generated from sunlight, while 'solar energy' can also mean heat.
Opposites
Word family
- solar panel noun
- A device that captures sunlight and converts it into electricity.
- solar cell noun
- A single unit that converts light into electrical current.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'solar energy' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Solar energy' is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb and no plural form. Option 1 uses 'many' and a plural, which is wrong; option 3 uses a plural verb; option 4 treats it as a person.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “solar energy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.