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

Discharge factor

Energy; Solar power

A number equivalent to the time in hours during which a battery is discharged at constant current usually expressed as a percentage of the total battery capacity, i.e., C/5 indicates a discharge ...

Spinning reserve

Energy; Solar power

Electric power plant or utility capacity on-line and running at low power in excess of actual load.

Split-spectrum cell

Energy; Solar power

A compound photovoltaic device in which sunlight is first divided into spectral regions by optical means. Each region is then directed to a different photovoltaic cell optimised for converting that ...

Design month

Energy; Solar power

The month having the combination of insolation and load that requires the maximum energy from the photovoltaic array.

Diffuse insolation

Energy; Solar power

Sunlight received indirectly as a result of scattering due to clouds, fog, haze, dust, or other obstructions in the atmosphere. Opposite of direct insolation.

Specific gravity

Energy; Solar power

The ratio of the weight of the solution to the weight of an equal volume of water at a specified temperature. Used as an indicator of battery state-of-charge.