Solar Energy Glossary
A
AC (Alternating Current)
The type of electricity used in homes and businesses. Solar panels produce DC power, which must be converted to AC using an inverter.
Array
A set of solar panels wired together to form a complete electricity-generating unit.
Amperage
The strength of the electric current flowing through a circuit.
B
Balance of System (BOS)
All components of a solar system other than the panels, including inverters, racking, wiring, and monitoring equipment.
Battery Storage
A system that stores excess solar power for use during outages or at night.
Battery Cycle Life
The number of full charge-discharge cycles a battery can perform before its capacity significantly decreases.
C
Cell (Solar Cell)
The silicon-based components inside panels that convert sunlight into electricity.
Combiner Box
A device that merges multiple PV strings into a single output for the inverter.
D
DC (Direct Current)
Electricity produced by solar panels before conversion to AC.
Degradation Rate
The annual decline in a solar panel’s energy output.
E
Efficiency
The percentage of sunlight a panel converts into usable electricity.
Energy Audit
An assessment of a property’s energy use to identify efficiency improvements.
F
Feed-In Tariff (FIT)
A program that pays consumers for exporting excess solar energy to the grid.
G
Grid
The network that delivers electricity from utilities to consumers.
Ground Mount
A solar installation placed on a metal frame on the ground rather than on a rooftop.
H
Hybrid Inverter
An inverter capable of managing both solar energy and battery storage.
I
Inverter
Converts DC electricity from solar panels into AC usable by home appliances.
Irradiance
The amount of solar radiation received per square meter.
J
Junction Box
A protective enclosure where electrical connections are housed.
K
kW (Kilowatt)
A unit of power measuring electricity generation capacity.
kWh (Kilowatt-Hour)
A unit measuring electricity consumption over time.
L
Load
An electrical device or appliance that consumes power.
M
Microinverter
A small inverter attached to each panel, improving performance and monitoring.
N
Net Metering
A billing system that credits homeowners for excess solar energy sent to the grid.
O
Optimizer
A device used to improve panel performance, especially in shaded conditions.
P
Photovoltaic (PV)
Technology that converts sunlight into electricity.
Q
Qualitative Analysis
A non-numerical evaluation of system performance or design conditions.
R
Racking System
The mounting equipment that secures solar panels to a roof or ground structure.
S
Solar Irradiance
Sunlight intensity at a specific location and time.
String
A group of panels wired together in series.
T
Thin-Film Solar
A lightweight, flexible solar technology used in specialty applications.
U
Utility Grid
The infrastructure that supplies electricity from power plants to consumers.
V
Voltage
The electrical pressure that pushes current through a circuit.
W
Watt (W)
A basic unit of electrical power.
X
X-Series Modules
A reference to certain high-efficiency solar panel models.
Y
Yield
The total energy produced by a solar system over a set period.
Z
Zero-Export
A setting that prevents solar power from being sent back to the grid.