Solar Energy, Solar Technology and Solar Cells The sun is an enormous burning ball of gas that gives off heat and light – in other words, energy. In fact, the sun already powers our world. It makes the plants grow and keeps the oceans and the air and the land warm and gives us all life. Engineers can now use the sun’s energy (“solar energy”) in order to create electricity to run our homes, our hospitals, our automobiles, our world… The systems and devices they use to capture the sun’s energy is called “solar technology.” The most important element of solar technology is the “solar cell,” a small chip that turns sunlight into electricity.