Solar Energy Glossary
Every key solar-energy term, explained simply and clearly.
Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics is the practice of combining solar photovoltaic panels with active farming on the same land, allowing electricity generation and crop or livestock production to occur together.
Battery Storage
Battery storage is a system that captures electrical energy in chemical form and releases it later as electricity, allowing excess powerâoften from solar panelsâto be saved for use when generation is low or demand is high.
Battery energy storage (BESS)
Battery energy storage (BESS) is a system that stores electrical energy in chemical form using rechargeable batteries and releases it on demand to balance supply and demand.
Bifacial solar panel
A bifacial solar panel is a photovoltaic module that produces electricity from light hitting both its front and rear surfaces, capturing direct sunlight and reflected (albedo) light.
Capacity factor
Capacity factor is the ratio of a power plantâs actual energy output over a period of time to the maximum possible output it could have produced if it ran at its nameâplate capacity the whole time.
Energy Storage
Energy storage is the process of capturing energy produced at one moment and releasing it later for use, typically using technologies such as batteries, pumpedâhydro, or thermal systems.
Feed-in tariff
A feedâin tariff (FIT) is a policy mechanism that guarantees renewable energy producers a fixed, aboveâmarket price for each kilowattâhour (kWh) of electricity they feed into the grid, typically under longâterm contracts.
Flexible
A flexible solar panel, also âŚ
Flexible Solar Panel
A flexible solar panel is a thin, lightweight photovoltaic module made from bendable materials that can conform to curved or irregular surfaces while converting sunlight into electricity.
Grid parity
Grid parity is the point at which the cost of generating electricity from a renewable sourceâmost commonly solar photovoltaicâbecomes equal to or lower than the price of electricity purchased from the conventional utility grid. When this occurs, solar power can compete without subsidies.
Home Solar System
A home solar system is a residential photovoltaic (PV) installation that converts sunlight into electricity for onâsite use, typically consisting of solar panels, an inverter, mounting hardware, and optionally a battery storage unit.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
A kilowattâhour (kWh) is the amount of energy delivered or consumed when one kilowatt of power is used continuously for one hour.
Net metering
Net metering is a billing arrangement that lets owners of solar (or other renewable) systems send excess electricity they generate back to the grid and receive a credit at the same retail rate they would pay for electricity they consume.
Perovskite solar cell
A perovskite solar cell is a photovoltaic device that uses a thin film of perovskiteâstructured semiconductor material to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Photovoltaic (PV)
Photovoltaic (PV) is a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials that generate a voltage when exposed to light. It powers solar panels and feeds clean energy into homes, businesses, and the grid.
Photovoltaic Panel
A photovoltaic panel, also called a solar panel, is a flat device composed of multiple solar cells that converts sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural processes that are continuously replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. It contrasts with fossil fuels, which deplete finite resources and emit greenhouse gases.
Residential Solar System
A residential solar system is a rooftop (or groundâmounted) photovoltaic installation designed to generate electricity for a single home, typically consisting of solar panels, an inverter, mounting hardware, and optionally a battery storage unit.
Rooftop Solar
Rooftop solar is the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of a building to capture sunlight and convert it directly into electricity for onâsite use or grid export.
Selfâconsumption
Selfâconsumption is the practice of using the electricity generated by oneâs ownâŻsolarâPVâŻsystem to meetâŻtheâŻownerâŻââŻâ its own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own own ownâŻ
Solar
Solar refers to the Sunâs radiation and the energy that can be captured and converted into heat or electricity.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that can be captured and converted into electricity or thermal power.
Solar Energy System
A Solar Energy System is a set ofâŻtechnologiesâsuch as photovoltaic panelsâŻor   the  solarâthermal  â  âŚ
Solar Module
A solar module, also called a photovoltaic (PV) panel, is a preâassembled unit of solar cells encapsulated in glass and a protective frame that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar Panel
A solar panel is a flat device composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar Panel Price
Solar panel price is the total cost you pay to purchase a photovoltaic (PV) module, typically expressed per watt (e.g., $0.70âŻ/âŻW) or per panel (e.g., $300 for a 450âŻW panel). It includes the panel itself but usually excludes installation, mounting hardware, and other balanceâofâsystem components.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are flat devices composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity. They generate DC power when photons strike the semiconductor material, which can be used onâsite or fed into the grid after inversion to AC.
Solar Power
Solar power is the electricity or heat generated directly from sunlight using photovoltaic cells or solarâthermal collectors. It converts photons into usable energy without burning fuel.
Solar Power System
A solar power system is a collection of devicesâtypically solar panels, an inverter, mounting hardware, and sometimes batteriesâthat capture sunlight and turn it into usable electricity or heat for a home, business, or the electric grid.
Solar Solar ??
Solar Solar?? is a colloquial phrase that refers to the generation of electricity directly from sunlight using photovoltaic (PV) panels, essentially the same as solar photovoltaic energy.
Solar System Installation
Solar system installation is the process of designing, mounting, connecting, and commissioning all componentsâsolar panels, inverters, mounting structures, wiring, and monitoring equipmentâso that a photovoltaic (PV) system can safely convert sunlight into usable electricity.
Solar inverter
A solar inverter is an electronic device that converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used by home appliances or fed into the grid.
Solar panel degradation
Solar panel degradation is the gradual reduction in a photovoltaic moduleâs power output over time, usually expressed as a percent loss per year.
Storage Battery
A storage battery is a rechargeable electrochemical device that stores electrical energy as chemical energy and releases it as electricity when needed.
Time-of-Use Tariff
A TimeâofâUse (TOU) tariff is an electricity pricing structure where the unit cost varies according to the time of day, reflecting periods of high and low demand on the grid.