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

adjustable set point

Energy; Solar power

A feature allowing the user to adjust the voltage levels at which a charge controller will become active.

photovoltaic (PV) generator

Energy; Solar power

The total of all PV strings of a PV power supply system, which are electrically interconnected.

alternating current (AC)

Energy; Solar power

A type of electrical current, the direction of which is reversed at regular intervals or cycles. In the United States, the standard is 120 reversals or 60 cycles per second. Electricity transmission ...

photovoltaic (PV) module

Energy; Solar power

The smallest environmentally protected, essentially planar assembly of solar cells and ancillary parts, such as interconnections, terminals, (and protective devices such as diodes) intended to ...

acceptor

Energy; Solar power

A dopant material, such as boron, which has fewer outer shell electrons than required in an otherwise balanced crystal structure, providing a hole, which can accept a free electron.

photovoltaic (PV) panel

Energy; Solar power

often used interchangeably with PV module (especially in one-module systems), but more accurately used to refer to a physically connected collection of modules (i.e., a laminate string of modules ...

air mass

Energy; Solar power

Equal to the cosine of the zenith angle-that angle from directly overhead to a line intersecting the sun. The air mass is an indication of the length of the path solar radiation travels through the ...