6 Terms
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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.
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.
