Solar Energy: Glossary

Solar Terminology- Definitions

Amorphous Panels: One of the two main types of solar panels, perform better in low-light conditions and lose less efficiency at high temperatures. However, they are less efficient and larger than crystalline panels of the same wattage under optimal conditions.

Blocking Diode: A component that prevents your solar panel from draining power from the battery at night. Most charge controllers include this feature, serving the same purpose as a standalone blocking diode.

Bypass Diodes: Installed during manufacturing, ensure optimal performance even in partially shaded conditions by preventing shadowed solar cells from draining power from those still exposed to sunlight.

Converter: A device adjusts DC power by either stepping up the voltage while reducing the current or vice versa. Its AC equivalent is a transformer, while in mechanics, it functions similarly to gears or belt drives.

Crystalline Panels: Crystalline silicon panels, available in mono-crystalline or poly-crystalline forms, are typically rigid, framed with aluminium, and glass-fronted. They offer higher efficiency and are more compact than amorphous panels, especially in ideal conditions.

Current: The flow rate of electricity through a circuit, measured in amperes or amps. You can compare it to the flow rate in a water pipe.

Efficiency: Efficiency measures the percentage of sunlight that a solar cell converts into usable electricity. Mono-crystalline panels usually achieve efficiencies between 14% and 18%.

Energy: Energy, the product of power and time, is measured in watt-hours (Wh). For example, 1,000 watt-hours equal 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh). Similarly, the product of current and time gives ampere-hours (Ah).

Flexible Panels: Solar panels, often designed with amorphous materials, are mounted on flexible backings like metal or plastic, allowing them to bend slightly for versatile installation.

Framed Panels: Rigid solar panels mounted onto a metal backing and encased in an aluminium frame. This design makes them easy to attach to roofs or other structures.

Insolation: The amount and type of sunlight reaching the surface of a solar cell.

Inverter: A device that converts DC power (from solar panels) into usable AC power for homes. Inverters typically convert 12, 24, or 48 volts of DC into 115 or 230 volts of AC.

Open-Circuit Voltage: The maximum voltage a solar panel can produce without generating its full power output.

Power: The rate at which energy is transferred or used, measured in watts (W). Power is the product of voltage and current. One kilowatt (kW) is equivalent to 1,000 watts, and consuming 1 kW for one hour equals 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Rated Power: The amount of power a solar panel generates under ideal conditions, typically measured in watts when exposed to sunlight at an intensity of 1,000W per square meter.

Renewable Energy: Energy sourced from natural, inexhaustible resources like solar or wind.

Rollable Panel: a type of amorphous solar panel mounted on a plastic backing that can be rolled up for easy storage or transport. These panels typically roll into a compact size, such as an 8-inch (20 cm) diameter.

Short-Circuit Current: The maximum current a solar panel can produce under short-circuit conditions, though not its highest power output.

Solar: Refers to energy or technologies harnessing power from the sun.

Solar Array: A group of two or more solar panels (modules) connected together to generate more electricity.

Solar Cell: The smallest unit in a photovoltaic (PV) system, made from semi-conducting materials, responsible for converting sunlight into DC electricity.

Solar Energy: Energy, either thermal or electrical, produced by harnessing the sun’s radiation.

Solar Panel: A collection of solar cells working together to convert sunlight into electricity.

Solar Power: Energy generated from sunlight, typically converted into electricity.

Solar Tracker: A mounting system for solar arrays that automatically adjusts to follow the sun’s path across the sky, increasing energy output compared to fixed panels, especially during longer summer days.

Transformer: An electrical device that steps up voltage while reducing current (or the reverse). It works with AC power, unlike a converter, which handles DC.

Triple Junction: A type of amorphous solar panel technology sensitive to three wavelengths of light, giving these panels a broader operating range.

Utility Grid: The commercial electricity distribution network that provides power to homes and businesses.