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

battery energy storage

Energy; Solar power

Energy storage using electrochemical batteries. The three main applications for battery energy storage systems include spinning reserve at generating stations, load leveling at substations, and peak ...

recombination

Energy; Solar power

The action of a free electron falling back into a hole. Recombination processes are either radiative, where the energy of recombination results in the emission of a photon, or nonradiative, where the ...

battery life

Energy; Solar power

The period during which a cell or battery is capable of operating above a specified capacity or efficiency performance level. Life may be measured in cycles and/or years, depending on the type of ...

rectifier

Energy; Solar power

A device that converts alternating current to direct current. See inverter.

bipv (building-integrated photovoltaics)

Energy; Solar power

A term for the design and integration of photovoltaic (PV) technology into the building envelope, typically replacing conventional building materials. This integration may be in vertical facades, ...

regulator

Energy; Solar power

Prevents overcharging of batteries by controlling charge cycle-usually adjustable to conform to specific battery needs.

blocking diode

Energy; Solar power

A semiconductor connected in series with a solar cell or cells and a storage battery to keep the battery from discharging through the cell when there is no output, or low output, from the solar cell. ...