Solar energy is a very large inexhaustible source of energy which is clean, environment friendly and above all free for all unlike fossil fuels. The energy content of solar energy is estimated to be 18 x 1010MW!. In this paper we shall look into the thermal method of solar energy utilization. The principle involved in thermal method is to expose a dark surface to absorb the radiation, which then transfer the heat to air or water circulating to utility points.