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

Photovoltaic-thermal (pv/t) system

Energy; Solar power

A photovoltaic system that, in addition to converting sunlight into electricity, collects the residual heat energy and delivers both heat and electricity in usable form. Also called a total energy ...

Amorphous semiconductor

Energy; Solar power

A non-crystalline semiconductor material that has no long-range order.

Power conditioning

Energy; Solar power

The process of modifying the characteristics of electrical power (for e.g., inverting direct current to alternating current).

Power conditioning equipment

Energy; Solar power

Electrical equipment, or power electronics, used to convert power from a photovoltaic array into a form suitable for subsequent use. A collective term for inverter, converter, battery charge ...

Array current

Energy; Solar power

The electrical current produced by a photovoltaic array when it is exposed to sunlight.

Power conversion efficiency

Energy; Solar power

The ratio of output power to input power of the inverter.

Annual solar savings

Energy; Solar power

The annual solar savings of a solar building is the energy savings attributable to a solar feature relative to the energy requirements of a non-solar building.