Glossary

The conversion of sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells or concentrated solar power (CSP) systems.

AH stands for “ampere hour” or “amp hour”. It is a unit of measure for the amount of energy charge in a battery that enables 1 ampere of current to flow for one hour. In other words, 1 Ah indicates how much amperage a battery can provide for one hour.

AC stands for alternating current, which is the type of electricity used in homes and businesses. DC stands for direct current, which is the type of electricity produced by solar panels.

Equivalent to one thousand watts of electrical power. It is used to measure the capacity or size of a solar system.

A unit of energy used to measure the amount of electricity consumed or generated. It is the unit of measurement for how utility companies measure electricity usage.

An apparatus which converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC).

Financial incentives provided by governments or utility companies to encourage the installation of solar systems.

The measure of how effectively a solar panel converts sunlight into electricity.

The angle between the sun and the vertical point directly overhead. It is used to determine the position of the sun in the sky.