How much energy does sunlight provide to the earth per year?

Sunlight provides approximately 173,000 terawatts of energy to the Earth continuously, which translates to about 1.74 x 10^17 watts. Over the course of a year, this amounts to roughly 600 quintillion joules of energy, far exceeding the total energy consumption of humanity. This immense energy supply underscores the potential for solar power as a sustainable energy source.