Solar power

Solar power

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into electric current using the photoelectric effect.

Industry: Energy

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Solar power

polycrystalline silicon

Energy; Solar power

A semiconductor material that is comprised of many crystals; photovoltaic panels are usually made from this material.

fixed tilt array

Energy; Solar power

A photovoltaic array that is securely positioned at a specific angle

concentrator

Energy; Solar power

Device which is used to gather sunlight and focus it onto a specified location, usual that of a solar cell. This device is comprised of a photovoltaic module and lenses or reflective resources.

photon

Energy; Solar power

The most basic, individual particle of light

diffuse insolation

Energy; Solar power

Due to natural or man-made obstructions in the sky (including but not limited to clouds, fog, haze, and pollution), scattered sunlight is indirectly received.

availability

Energy; Solar power

Usually described in hours per year; availability is number of hours of power a photovoltaic or generating system can provide, with regard to the state of condition it is in.

BIPV

Energy; Solar power

Acrynym for Building-Intergrated Photovoltaic; incorporating photovoltaic technology into a building's design, usually resulting in roofing/skyline systems or glass-replacement designs.