Glossary

A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-U | V-Z

A
AC Power (Alternating Current)

An electrical current whose magnitude and direction varies continuously as a sine wave. AC is the form in which electricity is delivered to businesses and residences. It can be thought of as "standard" electrical power.

Annual Solar Savings

The annual solar savings of a solar building is the energy savings attributable to a solar feature relative to the energy requirements of a non-solar building.

Array

In the solar industry, this is an interconnected system of PV modules that function as a single electricity-producing unit. The modules are assembled as a discrete structure, with common support or mounting. In smaller systems, an array can consist of a single module. Also see Photovoltaic (PV) Array

B
Battery Available Capacity

The total maximum charge, that can be withdrawn from a cell or battery under a specific set of operating conditions including discharge rate, temperature, initial state of charge, age, and cut-off voltage.

Battery Capacity

The maximum total electrical charge, which a battery can deliver to a load under a specific set of conditions.

Battery Cell

The simplest operating unit in a storage battery. It consists of one or more positive electrodes or plates, an electrolyte that permits ionic conduction, one or more negative electrodes or plates, separators between plates of opposite polarity, and a container for all the above.

Battery Energy Capacity

The total energy available, expressed in watt-hours (kilowatt-hours), which can be withdrawn from a fully charged cell or battery. The energy capacity of a given cell varies with temperature, rate, age, and cut-off voltage. This term is more common to system designers than it is to the battery industry where capacity usually refers to ampere-hours.

Battery Energy Storage

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 shaving on the customer side of the meter. Some solar installations include a battery backup system (bbu) to store access energy or are grid-tied to use the electrical grid as a way of storing the extra electrical production.

Battery Life

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.

D
DC Power (Direct Current)

An electrical current whose magnitude and direction stay constant. The photovoltaic cells on solar panels capture energy from sunlight in the form of DC. In order to power your home or business, this current must be converted to AC by an inverter.

Distributed Power

Generic term for any power supply located near the point where the power is used. Opposite of central power. See stand-alone system .

Distributed Systems

Systems that are installed at or near the location where the electricity is used, as opposed to central systems that supply electricity to grids. A residential photovoltaic system is a distributed system.

E
Electrical Current

The flow of charged electrons through a circuit. Depending upon its behavior, an electrical current can be alternating or direct (AC or DC).

Electric Panel

An electrical distribution board that houses electrical circuit breakers. It is the main point at which electricity is distributed throughout a building. It is otherwise known as a breaker box or electrical cabinet.

Electrical grid

An integrated system of electricity distribution, usually covering a large area.

Energy Assessment

A survey and series of tests that shows how much energy is used in a home, and determines which helps find ways to improvements that could be made to reduce energy use.

Energy Audit

A survey and series of tests that shows how much energy is used in a home, and determines which helps find ways to improvements that could be made to reduce energy use.

Also see Energy Assessment
 

Energy Evaluation

A survey and series of tests that shows how much energy is used in a home, and determines which helps find ways to improvements that could be made to reduce energy use.

Also see Energy Assessment
 

F
Fixed Tilt Array

A photovoltaic (PV) array set in at a fixed angle with respect to horizontal. Standard Solar typically refers to this as a pole mounted system.

Fossil Fuel

Fuels that are derived from natural resources, usually in the form of coal, oil, or natural gas. There is a limited supply of these resources, and they are only located in certain parts of the world, making them subject to political and international maneuvering, and causing energy prices to be unstable.

Full Sun

The amount of power density in sunlight received at the earth's surface at noon on a clear day (equal to about 1,000 Watts/square meter).

G
Gigawatt (GW)

A unit of power equal to 1 billion Watts; 1 million kilowatts, or 1,000 megawatts.

Greenhouse Gases

Gaseous components in the atmosphere that contribute to a gradual warming of the planet. The most prevalent of these gases is carbon dioxide, which is released in large quantities when fossil fuels are burned. Nothing is burned to convert sunlight into power. Since solar energy does not have any gaseous by-products, it is considered a clean energy source.

Grid

An integrated system of electricity distribution, usually covering a large area. Also see Electrical Grid

Grid-Connected System

Also known as a Grid-Tied System. A solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system in which the PV array acts like a central generating plant, supplying power to the grid. Standard Solar systems are grid-connected solar electrical systems.

Grid-Interactive System

Also known as a Grid-Tied System. A solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system in which the PV array acts like a central generating plant, supplying power to the grid. Standard Solar systems are grid-connected solar electrical systems.

Also see Grid-Connected System
 

Ground Mounted Systems

A solar electric system that is not attached directly to a building, but is supported by a structure that is built low to the ground. Ground mounts are ideal for sites with limited roof space and a lot of open land.

H
Homeowner

A person which legally owns the dwelling for which they would like to install solar. A potential Standard Solar customer must own their home to allow installation.

I
Interconnection

The link between your utility company and your building that enables power to move seamlessly in either direction.

Inverter

A device that converts DC power captured by the photovoltaic cells on solar panels into AC power that can be used to power your home or business. This device is an integral part of a solar system. Systems may have one central inverter or multiple microinverters, depending on the system size and design.

K
kW (Kilowatt)

A measurement of power. A kilowatt is one thousand watts. The size of a solar system is often measured in kW. This refers to the capacity for production from the solar electric system. Actual production is dictated by orientation and sun exposure.

KWh (Kilowatt Hour)

A measurement of energy consumption. One kilowatt hour is defined as the amount of energy consumed by a 1000-Watt appliance running continuously for 1 hour. This is the measurement your utility company uses to calculate your electric bill. For your solar electric system, this is how we measure your system’s production.

L
Load

The demand on an energy producing system; the energy consumption or requirement of a piece or group of equipment. Usually expressed in terms of amperes or watts in reference to electricity.

Load Current (A)

The current required by the electrical device.

M
Megawatt (MW)

1,000 kilowatts or 1 million watts; standard measure of electric power plant generating capacity.

Megawatt-Hour

1,000 kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours.

Microinverter

An inverter that converts direct current (DC) from a single solar module (panel) to alternating current (AC).. Microinverters are installed instead of a central inverter depending on the needs and design of a particular system.

Module

See photovoltaic (PV) module

N
Net Metering

An agreement between a solar electric system owner and the local electric utility that allows the system owner to buy and sell energy in the form of electric credits. When the solar system produces excess energy, the excess energy flows back onto the grid ,causing the electric meter to spin backwards.. For all the energy that is put back onto the grid, the solar electric system owner will receive a credit on his/her utility bill to offset the cost of any electricity he/she may have used. Net metering is controlled by your state, so be sure you ask Standard Solar about your state’s net metering policy.

O
On/Off Grid System

A solar energy system that is interconnected with the utility grid is said to be an on-grid or grid-tied system, while a system with no interconnected to the electrical grid is described as an off-grid system.

P
Panel

Also see know as photovoltaic (PV) panel 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 used to achieve a required voltage and current).

Peak Demand/Load

The maximum energy demand or load in a specified time period.

Peak Sun Hours

The equivalent number of hours per day when solar irradiance averages 1,000 w/m2, or is at it’s strongest. Typically, this is a six hour window between 9am and 3pm, depending on your location, orientation and time of year.

Photovoltaic (PV) Array

An interconnected system of PV modules that function as a single electricity-producing unit. The modules are assembled with common support or mounting structure. In smaller systems, an array can consist of a single module.

Photovoltaic (PV) Cell

The smallest semiconductor element within a PV module to perform the immediate conversion of light into electrical energy (direct current voltage and current). Also called a solar cell.

Photovoltaic (PV) Module

Also referred to as a Photovoltaic (PV) Panel. 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 generate direct current power under unconcentrated sunlight. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can either be the top layer (superstrate) or the back layer (substrate). Multiple PV modules are make up a single Photovoltaic (PV) panel.

Photovoltaic (PV) Panel

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 used to achieve a required voltage and current).

Photovoltaic (PV) System

PV systems convert sunlight and ultra violet light directly into electricity. Solar thermal systems use a different technology that uses sunlight to heat water or air, often used to heat swimming pools. Standard Solar exclusively designs and sells custom PV solar electric systems.

Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is an agreement between a building owner and Standard Solar, where Standard Solar and a partner cover the full cost of installing and maintaining a solar electric system. In return, the host customer agrees to buy the power produced by the system. This allows building owners to pay as they go, rather than in one large upfront payment and is typically a financial solution for commercial projects.

R
Roof Mounted System

A solar system in which solar panels are mounted directly on the roof of a building or adjacent structure. The majority of solar systems are mounted on a roof.

S
Solar Array

An interconnected system of PV modules that function as a single electricity-producing unit. The modules are assembled with common support or mounting structure. In smaller systems, an array can consist of a single module.

Also see Photovoltaic (PV) Array
 

Solar Cell

The smallest semiconductor element within a PV module to perform the immediate conversion of light into electrical energy (direct current voltage and current). Also called a solar cell. Also see Photovoltaic (PV) Cell

Solar Energy

Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun. In order to power buildings, this energy must be captured and converted to AC electrical power.

Solar Panel

See Photovoltaic (PV) Panel . A group of solar cells arranged into a panel that can be installed onto a flat surface. The panel captures sunlight and converts it into DC power.

Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC)

For every 1mWh a solar system produces, one Solar Renewable Energy Credit is issued. For more information about SRECs, please visit our…..

Stand-Alone System

Also called an off-grid system A solar energy system that is not connected to the utility grid.. To provide continuous power, these systems must be connected to storage units that can store excess power produced during daylight hours for use at night, such as a battery backup system.

T
Thin Film

A layer of semiconductor material, such as copper indium diselenide or gallium arsenide, a few microns or less in thickness, used to make photovoltaic cells. This technology is relatively new in the solar field and is primarily used in commercial and utility applications.

Tilt Angle

The angle at which a solar array is tilted towards the sun. Depending on the geographic location of a building, a solar array might be installed flat or tilted.

Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates

A utility billing system in which the price of electricity depends upon the hour of day at which it is used. Rates are higher during the afternoon when electric demand is at its peak. Rates are lower during the night when electric demand is off peak.

Tracking Array

A photovoltaic (PV) array that follows the path of the sun to maximize the solar radiation incident on the PV surface. The two most common orientations are (1) one axis where the array tracks the sun east to west and (2) two-axis tracking where the array points directly at the sun at all times. Two-axis tracking arrays capture the maximum possible daily energy.

U
Utility Grid

The infrastructure of power lines, transformers and substations that deliver electric power to homes and businesses. The utility grid is owned and managed by electric utility companies.

Utility Meter

A device provided and maintained by your utility company that measures the flow of electricity between a site that uses electricity and the electric utility company. When your solar system produces excess power, your meter literally spins backward (see net metering). To measure this flow of electricity, Standard Solar will coordinate the installation of a new meter by your utility company during your solar installation process.

V
Volt (V)

The amount of force required to drive a steady current. Electrical systems of most homes use 120 volts.

W
Watt (W)

The Watt is the standard unit of measure for power, either by capacity or demand. For example, light bulbs are classified by wattage.