Glossary of Solar Terms

Alternating current (AC): the type of electrical current that is most commonly used in power supplies.  AC is used to power all electric appliances in your home. 

Ampre (Amp): a measure that shows how much electrical current is traveling through your wires

Array: a group of photovoltaic (PV) panels.  One residential system could include a number of arrays on the roof.

Azimuth: a measurement in degrees used to determine the optimal placement of PV panels. The azimuth angle is the direction on a compass from which sunlight is hitting the roof, which is the direction the PV panels should face for the best power production.  A negative angle indicates that the sun is west of south, while a positive angle indicates the sun is east of south. 

Balance of System (BOS): all parts of a solar power system, including panels, the inverter, wires, conduit, safety shut-offs, and racking.

Base load: the amount of power the utility provider must constantly supply to meet the demand for electricity.

Cell: the smallest part of a panel that converts sunlight into DC electricity

Direct Current (DC): a low voltage electrical current that is produced by solar cells

Fossil Fuels: fuel that comes from natural resources, like natural gas, oil, or coal.  Fossil fuels are in limited supply and can only be found in few places around the world. 

Gigawatt: one billion watts

Greenhouse gases: gases in the atmosphere that are contributing to the warming of the planet.  Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is released in large volumes as fossil fuels are burned for energy.  “Green” or “clean” energy sources, like solar power, do not produce any greenhouse gases during the production of energy. 

Grid: the system of cables in a region that supplies electricity to all buildings in the area.

Ground mount: a solar power system that is installed on the ground instead of a roof

Interconnection: the process of connecting a solar power system to the grid

Inverter: a device that converts the DC electricity produced by the solar panels to AC electricity that can be used to power a home or business.

Kilowatt: one thousand watts

Kilowatt-hour (kWh): a measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of 1,000 watts for 1 hour

Megawatt: one million watts

Module: one solar panel or a group of solar cells

Net meter: a meter that tracks how much electricity your solar power system puts into the grid and how much electricity your home pulls from the grid
Panel or Solar panel: a module or group of solar cells

Photon: light energy

Photovoltaic: the process of converting light into power

Power purchase agreement (PPA): a contract between a homeowner or business and a power provider, which allows the consumer to purchase power from the provider.  With a solar PPA, the provider owns the panels and the consumer pays for the power they use that is produced by the panels.  

Semiconductor: material that has a limited ability to conduct an electric current.  Some examples of semiconductors used in solar panels include silicon, copper indium diselenide, and cadmium telluride gallium arsenide.

Silicon: the semiconductor most commonly used in solar cells.

Solar energy, solar power or solar electricity: power that is generated by sunlight.

Solar noon: the time of day when the sun is at its highest point.  This time is when amount of daylight during the day is divided in half and may be different than 12:00 pm.

Stand Alone (off-grid): a solar power system that is not connected to the power grid and may not have a battery.

Thin film panel: a flexible, thin solar panel that could refer to either amorphous photovoltaic solar panels or panels that use semiconductors like cadmium telluride or copper indium gallium diselenide.

Tilt: the angle of the solar panel from the horizon.  The ideal tilt for a location will allow for the most sunlight absorption as possible.  

Time-of-use (TOU) rates: a utility billing system in which electricity prices are dependent on the time of day it is being used.  The higher the demand for the electricity, the higher the price and the lower the demand, the lower the price. 

Tracking panels: panels that change direction with the sun’s movement across the sky

Volt: the amount of force needed for a steady electrical current.  Most homes use a 120 volt electrical system.

Watt: a unit of power equal to amps times volts

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