Actually, since light is the universal speed limit, nothing can travel faster than it. However, as radiation travels in the form of light, the waves carry energy at constant, light speed. This cannot be changed as it moves, however, one can change the direction of light in a medium. Let's think about this with light in water. The light looks deformed because the light particles are bouncing around the molecules in the water and coming out the other side. The scattering off individual water particles makes the light go in different directions and this motion is slower than the light moving straight through the water.

If we are able to use a medium, such as a highly dense fluid, that deflects light enough when it is shot through, then virtually no light will pass the medium. We can apply the same reasoning towards radiation, and say that if we had a properly dense enough material, we could deflect the effects of radiation coming out. However, since we are talking about protecting Earth, it may be a little tougher, as this medium would have to be very dense and sit in the upper part of our atmosphere. If there were a dense film surrounding the Earth, we would theoretically be protected from effects of radiation.

As for the second part of your question, chemical energy can be converted into electrical energy, and this is how a battery generates power. Chlorophyll use the process of photosynthesis to produce energy. This process is an oxidation-reduction reaction in which the electrons travel from water to CO₂ molecules, creating a flow of charge within the plant. This flow of charge is what produces high-energy glucose, and if a battery was connected to the flow, we could harness the chemical energy by reacting it with the electrodes in the battery. This chemical reaction would include the battery in the flow of charge, powering other processes intended with the saved energy.