Referring to the direct conversion of light into electricity.

Made of semi-conducting materials that can directly convert sunlight to electricity without any harmful waste product.

Solar collector are made more efficient by using arrays of mirrors to concentrate the sun's ray onto photovoltaic panels.

According to the Department of Energy, homes incorporating solar heating designs can save as much as 50 percent on heating bills.

The negative aspects of solar energy is that it depends heavily on a range of factors including location, time of year, and the weather.

An extensive list of related words and definitions may be seen at this photovoltaic terms page.

1. An interconnected system of photovoltaic modules that function as a single electricity-producing unit. The modules are assembled as a discrete structure, with common support or mounting.

The modules are assembled as a discrete structure, with common support or mounting; in smaller systems, an array can consist of a single module.

The smallest semiconductor element within a PV module to perform the immediate conversion of light into electrical energy (direct current voltage and current). Also called a solar cell.

The ratio of the electric power produced by a photovoltaic device to the power of the sunlight incident on the device.

An extensive list of Photovoltaic words about conversion efficiency.

A solid-state electrical device that converts light directly into direct current electricity of voltage-current characteristics that are a function of the characteristics of the light source and the materials in and design of the device.

Solar photovoltaic devices are made of various semiconductor materials including silicon, cadmium sulfide, cadmium telluride, and gallium arsenide, and in single crystalline, multicrystalline, or amorphous forms.

The phenomenon that occurs when photons, the "particles" in a beam of light, knock electrons loose from the atoms they strike.

When this property of light is combined with the properties of semiconductors, electrons flow in one direction across a junction, setting up a voltage.

With the addition of circuitry, current will flow and electric power will be available.

The total of all photovoltaic strings of a photovoltaic power supply system, which are electrically interconnected.

The smallest environmentally protected, essentially planar assembly of solar cells and ancillary parts, such as interconnections, terminals, [and protective devices such as diodes] intended to generate direct current power under unconcentrated sunlight.

The structural (load carrying) member of a module can either be the top layer (superstrate) or the back layer (substrate).

Often used interchangeably with photovoltaic module (especially in one-module systems), but more accurately used to refer to a physically connected collection of modules (for example, a laminate string of modules used to achieve a required voltage and current).

A complete set of components for converting sunlight into electricity by the photovoltaic process, including the array and balance of system components.

A photovoltaic system that, in addition to converting sunlight into electricity, collects the residual heat energy and delivers both heat and electricity in usable form. Also called a "total energy system".

A photovoltaic module constructed with sequential layers of thin film semiconductor materials.