Question

Most of the sources of energy we use represent stored solar energy. Which of the following is not ultimately derived from the Sun’s energy?
(A) Geothermal energy
(B) Wind energy
(C) Nuclear energy
(D) Biomass

Answer 1

Hint Fission reactions provide the energy needed to fuse the lighter nuclei. No need for sunlight is involved in this reaction. Ultimately, nuclear energy is also not derived from the Sun's energy.

Complete solution step by step
Solar energy is the Sun's radiant light and heat harnessed into a number of ever-changing technologies, such as solar heating, photovoltaics , solar thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants, and artificial photosynthesis.
Solar technologies are characterised as either passive or active depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight and enable solar energy to be harnessed at different levels around the world, mostly depending on the distance from the equator. While solar energy mainly refers to the use of solar radiation for practical purposes, all renewable energies derive their energy directly or indirectly from the Sun, other than geothermal power and tidal power.
The thermal energy produced and deposited on the Earth is geothermal energy. The force that determines the temperature of matter is thermal energy. The geothermal energy of the crust of the Earth originates from the initial creation of the planet and from the radioactive decay of materials (in proportions actually uncertain but perhaps approximately equal).
Wind power or wind energy is the use of wind to provide mechanical power through wind turbines to turn electric generators and traditionally to do other work, like milling or pumping. Wind power is a sustainable, renewable energy source that has a much smaller impact on the environment compared to burning fossil fuels.
Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium.
Biomass is organic, meaning it's made of material, such as plants and animals, that comes from living organisms. Plants, wood, and waste are the most common biomass materials used for energy. These are called feedstocks for biomass. A non-renewable source of energy may also be biomass energy.
Ultimately, the conclusion can be made that the geothermal power, wind energy and biomass are all derived from solar energy.

So the correct option is option(C) Nuclear energy.

Note In the upper atmosphere, the Earth absorbs ${\text{174petawatts(PW)}}$ of incoming solar radiation (insolation).Roughly $30$ percent is reflected back to space, while clouds, oceans and land masses absorb the remainder.