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

duty rating

Energy; Solar power

The amount of time an inverter (power conditioning unit) can produce at full rated power.

surge capacity

Energy; Solar power

The maximum power, usually 3-5 times the rated power, that can be provided over a short time.

edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG)

Energy; Solar power

A method for making sheets of polycrystalline silicon for photovoltaic devices in which molten silicon is drawn upward by capillary action through a mold.

system availability

Energy; Solar power

The percentage of time (usually expressed in hours per year) when a photovoltaic system will be able to fully meet the load demand.

electric circuit

Energy; Solar power

The path followed by electrons from a power source (generator or battery), through an electrical system, and returning to the source.

system operating voltage

Energy; Solar power

The photovoltaic array output voltage under load. The system operating voltage is dependent on the load or batteries connected to the output terminals.