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

power factor (PF)

Energy; Solar power

The ratio of actual power being used in a circuit, expressed in watts or kilowatts, to the power that is apparently being drawn from a power source, expressed in volt-amperes or kilovolt-amperes.

availability

Energy; Solar power

The quality or condition of a photovoltaic system being available to provide power to a load. Usually measured in hours per year. One minus availability equals downtime.

primary battery

Energy; Solar power

A battery whose initial capacity cannot be restored by charging.

azimuth angle

Energy; Solar power

The angle between true south and the point on the horizon directly below the sun.

projected area

Energy; Solar power

The net south-facing glazing area projected on a vertical plane.

balance of system

Energy; Solar power

Represents all components and costs other than the photovoltaic modules/array. It includes design costs, land, site preparation, system installation, support structures, power conditioning, operation ...

underground feeder (UF)

Energy; Solar power

May be used for photovoltaic array wiring if sunlight resistant coating is specified; can be used for interconnecting balance-of-system components but not recommended for use within battery ...