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The type of electricity that flows in a circuit where the current periodically reverses direction. Most household appliances use AC power.
Albedo
The measure of the reflectivity of a surface. In solar energy, it's important for calculating the performance of bifacial solar panels.
Array
A collection of solar panels that work together as a system to generate electricity.
Azimuth
The compass direction that a solar panel faces. In the northern hemisphere, solar panels typically face south for optimal energy production.
Balance of System (BOS)
All components of a photovoltaic system other than the photovoltaic panels. This includes wiring, switches, a mounting system, one or many solar inverters, batteries, and battery chargers.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
A system that stores energy from solar panels or the grid for later use, typically using lithium-ion batteries.
Bifacial Solar Panels
Solar panels that can absorb light from both sides, increasing their overall energy production.
BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics)
Solar power technology that is integrated into building materials, such as roofing tiles or façade elements.
Capacity Factor
The ratio of actual energy output over a period of time to the potential output if the system operated at its full nameplate capacity continuously over the same period.
Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV)
A photovoltaic technology that uses lenses or curved mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto small, high-efficiency solar cells.
CSP (Concentrating Solar Power)
A system that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area. Electrical power is produced when the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a heat engine connected to an electrical power generator.
DC (Direct Current)
Electricity that flows in one direction through a circuit. Solar panels produce DC electricity, which is then converted to AC for home use.
Degradation Rate
The rate at which solar panels lose efficiency over time, typically around 0.5% to 1% per year.
Efficiency (Solar Cell Efficiency)
The ratio of electrical output of a solar cell to the incident energy in the form of sunlight. The higher the efficiency, the more electricity a solar panel can produce in a given area.
Grid-tied System
A solar power system that is connected to the utility grid, allowing for the exchange of power between the solar system and the grid.
Hybrid Inverter
An inverter that can manage inputs from both solar panels and a battery storage system, providing greater energy management capabilities.
Insolation
The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area over time, often expressed in kilowatt-hours per square meter per day.
Inverter
A device that converts DC electricity from solar panels into AC electricity for use in homes and businesses.
Kilowatt (kW)
A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts, commonly used to measure the output capacity of solar panels or systems.
kWh (Kilowatt-hour)
A unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt (1 kW) of power sustained for one hour. It's commonly used to measure electricity consumption.
Megawatt (MW)
A unit of power equal to one million watts, often used to measure the output of large solar farms or utility-scale installations.
Microinverter
A small inverter that's attached to each individual solar panel, converting DC to AC at the panel level.
Monocrystalline Solar Panel
A type of solar panel made from a single crystal structure, known for its high efficiency and sleek appearance.
MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)
A technique used in inverters and charge controllers to maximize power extraction under all conditions.
Off-grid System
A solar power system that operates independently from the utility grid, typically using batteries to store energy for use when the sun isn't shining.
Perovskite Solar Cells
A type of solar cell that uses a perovskite-structured compound as the light-harvesting active layer. They have shown rapid increases in efficiency in recent years.
Photovoltaic (PV) Effect
The process by which a photovoltaic cell converts light into electricity.
Power Optimizer
A DC to DC converter technology used in photovoltaic systems to increase energy output from PV modules.
PV (Photovoltaic)
The conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect.
Solar Cell
The basic unit of a photovoltaic system, typically made from silicon, which converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar Irradiance
The power per unit area received from the sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
Solar Panel
A packaged, connected assembly of photovoltaic cells used to capture energy from sunlight and convert it into electricity.
Solar Thermal
Technology that harnesses solar energy for thermal energy (heat) for use in industry, or in the residential and commercial sectors.
String Inverter
An inverter that connects to a series (or string) of solar panels, converting the DC output of multiple panels to AC.
Thin-film Solar Cell
A type of solar cell that is made by depositing one or more thin layers of photovoltaic material on a substrate.
Tilt Angle
The angle at which a solar panel is set relative to horizontal. The optimal tilt angle varies depending on the installation's latitude.
Tracking System
A mechanism used to orient photovoltaic panels toward the sun to increase energy capture.
Watt-peak (Wp)
The peak output power of a solar module under standard test conditions, used to help compare the relative output of solar panels.
Wind Energy
Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS)
An apparatus converting wind energy to usable forms of energy.
Wind Turbine
A device that produces electricity from wind energy.
Energy Kite
Airborne wind turbine for high-altitude wind energy.
Offshore Wind
Wind farms installed in bodies of water, typically on the continental shelf.
Bioenergy
Algal Biofuel
A form of biofuel derived from algae.
Anaerobic Decomposition
Decomposition without oxygen, producing CO2 and CH4.
Anaerobic Lagoon
A liquid-based organic waste management installation.
Biobutanol
Butanol isomers derived from renewable feedstock.
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
Extracting bioenergy from biomass and storing carbon.
Biofuels
Liquid fuels produced from biomass feedstocks.
Biomass
Organic material used as a fuel source.
Biomass Gas
A medium Btu gas from organic materials.
Biomass Waste
Organic non-fossil material that is a byproduct or discarded product.
Biomass-Based Diesel Fuel
Biodiesel and other renewable diesel fuel from biomass.
Biomimicry
Design based on biological entities and processes.
Black Liquor
A by-product of paper production used as an energy source.
Cellulosic Ethanol
Biofuel from wood, grasses, or non-edible plant parts.
Fuel Wood
Wood products used for direct combustion.
Hydropower
Combined Hydroelectric Plant
Plant using pumped water and natural streamflow.
Conventional Hydroelectric Plant
Plant producing power from natural streamflow.
Dam
Barrier across a river to control water flow or raise water levels.
Hydraulic Head
Distance between upstream and downstream water elevations.
Hydropower
Energy derived from flowing or falling water.
Pumped-Storage Hydroelectricity
Method of storing and producing electricity using water.
Run-of-River Hydroelectric Plant
Low-head plant using stream flow with little storage.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Energy
Heat energy extracted from the Earth's core.
Heat Pump (Geothermal)
System using Earth's temperature for heating/cooling.
Hot Dry Rock
Heat energy in impermeable, crystalline rock.
Energy Storage
Energy Storage
Technologies to store energy for later use.
Energy Harvesting
Capturing small amounts of otherwise lost energy.
Grid and Distribution
Blockchain in Energy
Using blockchain for peer-to-peer energy trading and grid management.
Distributed Generation
Electricity generation from many small sources.
Grid Modernization
The process of updating the electrical grid infrastructure to improve reliability, efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy sources.
Duck Curve
A graph of power production over the course of a day that shows the timing imbalance between peak demand and renewable energy production.
Load Balancing
The use of various techniques by electrical power stations to store excess electrical power during low demand periods for release as demand rises.
Microgrid
A localized group of electricity sources and loads that normally operates connected to and synchronous with the traditional centralized grid, but can disconnect and function autonomously as physical and/or economic conditions dictate.
Smart Grid
An electricity network using digital technology for management.
Virtual Power Plant (VPP)
A cloud-based distributed power plant that aggregates the capacities of heterogeneous distributed energy resources for the purposes of enhancing power generation, trading, or selling power on the electricity market.
Energy Efficiency
Energy Audit
Inspection and analysis of energy use in a building or system.
Energy Efficiency
Using less energy to perform the same task.
Green Building
Construction practices reducing environmental impact.
LEED Certification
Green building rating system.
Passive Solar Heating
Solar heating without external mechanical power.
Policy and Economics
Capital Expenditure (CapEx)
The upfront cost of purchasing and installing a solar energy system.
Circular Economy
Economic system aimed at eliminating waste.
Energy Democracy
Concept combining energy transitions with strengthening democracy.
Energy Poverty
Lack of access to modern energy services.
Externalities
Benefits or costs generated as byproducts of economic activities.
Feed-in Tariff
A policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers.
Green Marketing
The marketing of products or services based on their environmental benefits.
Grid Parity
The point at which alternative means of generating electricity (such as solar) produce power at a levelized cost that is less than or equal to the price of purchasing power from the electricity grid.
ITC (Investment Tax Credit)
A federal tax credit for solar systems on residential and commercial properties in the United States.
LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy)
The net present value of the unit cost of electricity over the lifetime of a generating asset. It's often used to compare different methods of electricity generation.
Net Metering
A billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.
Operating Expenditure (OpEx)
The ongoing costs associated with running and maintaining a solar energy system.
Payback Period
The length of time required for an investment in a solar energy system to recover its initial cost through energy savings or revenue generation.
PPA (Power Purchase Agreement)
A financial agreement where a developer arranges for the design, permitting, financing, and installation of a solar energy system on a customer's property at little to no cost.
REC (Renewable Energy Certificate)
A market-based instrument that represents the property rights to the environmental, social, and other non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation.
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
Program requiring renewable fuel in transportation fuel.
RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard)
A regulatory mandate to increase production of energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass and other alternatives to fossil and nuclear electric generation.
SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Certificate)
A type of REC specifically generated by solar energy systems, which can be sold to utility companies to meet their renewable energy requirements.
Yieldco
A company formed to own operating assets that produce a predictable cash flow, primarily through long term contracts. In the solar industry, yieldcos are often used to separate risky development activities from stable, operational assets.
Environmental Concepts
Artificial Photosynthesis
Replicating natural photosynthesis to produce fuels.
Biogenic Emissions
Naturally occurring emissions not significantly affected by human actions.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Capturing and storing waste CO2.
Carbon Footprint
Total greenhouse gases produced by human activities.
Carbon Stocks
Quantity of carbon stored in biological and physical systems.
Climate Change
Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns.
Flow Control
Directing waste to designated facilities through regulations.
Gasification
Converting carbonaceous materials into gases.
Geologic Sequestration
Storing captured CO2 in underground reservoirs.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming. The primary greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
A technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling.
Net Zero Energy
A concept where the total amount of energy used by a building on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.
Solar Fraction
The percentage of a building's total energy use that is met by solar energy.
Sustainability
The ability to maintain ecological balance in exploiting natural resources, ensuring that current needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
