Renewable Energy Glossary

Agrivoltaics

The practice of co-locating solar panels with agriculture, allowing for simultaneous land use for food production and energy generation.

AI-Powered Predictive Maintenance

The use of artificial intelligence to monitor solar panel performance and predict failures before they happen, improving efficiency.

Alternating Current (AC)

The form of electricity that is transmitted through the grid and used in homes and businesses. Solar panels generate direct current (DC), which must be converted to AC using an inverter.

Bifacial Solar Panels

Solar panels that generate electricity from both sides, increasing overall energy output.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

Solar panels integrated into building materials like windows, walls, or roofs, allowing structures to generate their own power.

Blockchain-Based Energy Trading

A decentralized method of buying and selling electricity through blockchain technology, allowing consumers to trade excess solar power with others.

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Solar Cells

A type of thin-film solar cell that is cost-effective and efficient, often used in large-scale solar farms.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

A solar technology that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a small area to produce heat, which is then used to generate electricity.

Decentralized Solar Energy

Solar energy generated from distributed small-scale sources, such as rooftop solar panels, rather than a central power plant.

Distributed Generation (DG)

Electricity generated at or near the point of consumption, often through solar panels on homes and buildings.

Energy Storage Systems (ESS)

Batteries or other storage solutions that store excess solar power for use when sunlight is unavailable.

Floating Solar (Floatovoltaics)

Solar panels installed on water bodies like reservoirs, reducing land use while minimizing water evaporation.

Inverter

A device that converts DC electricity from solar panels into AC electricity for use in homes and businesses.

IoT (Internet of Things) in Solar

The integration of sensors, cloud computing, and AI to monitor and optimize solar panel performance.

Lithium-Ion Battery Storage

The most common type of battery used for storing solar energy, known for its high efficiency and longevity.

Microgrid

A localized energy system that can operate independently from the main power grid, often incorporating solar panels and batteries.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

A high-efficiency type of solar panel made from a single crystal structure of silicon.

Multi-Junction Solar Cells

Advanced solar cells that use multiple layers to capture different wavelengths of light, increasing efficiency.

Net Metering

A billing system that credits solar panel owners for the electricity they add to the grid, reducing their electricity costs.

Perovskite Solar Cells

A next-generation solar cell technology with high efficiency and lower production costs compared to traditional silicon-based panels.

Photovoltaic (PV) Effect

The process by which solar cells convert sunlight into electricity.

Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

A financial arrangement in which a third-party developer installs, owns, and operates a solar energy system on a customer's property, selling the generated electricity to the customer at a fixed rate.

Silicon Solar Panels

The most common type of solar panel, made from silicon wafers.

Smart Inverter

An advanced inverter that can optimize energy flow, communicate with the grid, and enhance overall solar system efficiency.

Thin-Film Solar Panels

Lightweight solar panels made from layers of photovoltaic materials, often used in flexible and portable applications.

Tracking Solar Panels

Panels mounted on a system that follows the sun's movement to maximize energy absorption throughout the day.

Weather-Based Energy Optimization

The use of AI and real-time weather data to optimize solar panel performance based on changing atmospheric conditions.