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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.

Contributors in Solar power

Solar power

Boron (B)

Energy; Solar power

The chemical element commonly used as the dopant in photovoltaic device or cell material.

Reserve capacity

Energy; Solar power

The amount of generating capacity a central power system must maintain to meet peak loads.

Boule

Energy; Solar power

A sausage-shaped, synthetic single-crystal mass grown in a special furnace, pulled and turned at a rate necessary to maintain the single-crystal structure during growth.

Resistance (R)

Energy; Solar power

The property of a conductor, which opposes the flow of an electric current resulting in the generation of heat in the conducting material. The measure of the resistance of a given conductor is the ...

Life

Energy; Solar power

The period during which a system is capable of operating above a specified performance level.

Life-cycle cost

Energy; Solar power

The estimated cost of owning and operating a photovoltaic system for the period of its useful life.

Light-induced defects

Energy; Solar power

Defects, such as dangling bonds, induced in an amorphous silicon semiconductor upon initial exposure to light.

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