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

space charge

Energy; Solar power

See cell barrier.

diffuse insolation

Energy; Solar power

Sunlight received indirectly as a result of scattering due to clouds, fog, haze, dust, or other obstructions in the atmosphere. Opposite of direct insolation.

specific gravity

Energy; Solar power

The ratio of the weight of the solution to the weight of an equal volume of water at a specified temperature. Used as an indicator of battery state-of-charge.

diffuse radiation

Energy; Solar power

Radiation received from the sun after reflection and scattering by the atmosphere and ground.

spinning reserve

Energy; Solar power

Electric power plant or utility capacity on-line and running at low power in excess of actual load.

diffusion furnace

Energy; Solar power

Furnace used to make junctions in semiconductors by diffusing dopant atoms into the surface of the material.

split-spectrum cell

Energy; Solar power

A compound photovoltaic device in which sunlight is first divided into spectral regions by optical means. Each region is then directed to a different photovoltaic cell optimized for converting that ...