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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
Load
Energy; Solar power
The demand on an energy producing system; the energy consumption or requirement of a piece or group of equipment. Usually expressed in terms of amperes or watts in reference to electricity.
Junction box
Energy; Solar power
A photovoltaic (PV) generator junction box is an enclosure on the module where PV strings are electrically connected and where protection devices can be located, if necessary.
Junction diode
Energy; Solar power
A semiconductor device with a junction and a built-in potential that passes current better in one direction than the other. All solar cells are junction diodes.
Kilowatt (KW)
Energy; Solar power
A standard unit of electrical power equal to 1000 watts, or to the energy consumption at a rate of 1000 joules per second.
Maximum power point (MPP)
Energy; Solar power
The point on the current-voltage (I-V) curve of a module under illumination, where the product of current and voltage is maximum. For a typical silicon cell, this is at about 0.45 volts.
Maximum power point tracker (MPPT)
Energy; Solar power
Means of a power conditioning unit that automatically operates the photovoltaic generator at its maximum power point under all conditions.
Maximum power tracking
Energy; Solar power
Operating a photovoltaic array at the peak power point of the array's I-V curve where maximum power is obtained. Also called peak power tracking.
