Glossary
Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs)
**Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs)** are a group of potent climate forcers that remain in the atmosphere for a relatively short period—from a few days to a few decades—but have a much greater warming impact per unit of mass than longer-lived greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂)....
Small Modular Reactor (SMR)
A **Small Modular Reactor (SMR)** is a type of nuclear reactor designed with a smaller footprint and scalable capabilities. Unlike traditional, large-scale nuclear reactors, SMRs are built to generate a smaller amount of electricity – generally up to 300 megawatts per unit – making them highly...
Small Wind Turbine
A **Small Wind Turbine** is a renewable energy device designed to convert wind energy into electrical power for residential, agricultural, or small commercial applications. Unlike their larger counterparts used in wind farms, small wind turbines are typically less than 100 kilowatts in capacity...
Smart Grids
**Smart Grids** refer to the next generation of electricity networks that utilize advanced technology to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of power distribution. Unlike traditional power grids, Smart Grids incorporate digital communication and automated control systems,...
Solar Array
A **Solar Array** is a collection of multiple solar panels that are interconnected and function together to convert sunlight into electrical energy. Each panel in the array consists of numerous photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are made of semiconductor materials like silicon. These cells absorb...
Solar Carport
A **Solar Carport** is a multi-functional structure designed to provide covered parking for vehicles while incorporating solar panels on its rooftop. These innovative installations serve a dual purpose: protecting vehicles from the elements and generating clean, renewable energy. By harnessing...
Solar Charge Controller
A **Solar Charge Controller** is an essential device in photovoltaic (PV) systems that regulates the flow of electricity from solar panels to the battery bank. Its primary function is to ensure that your batteries are neither overcharged during the day nor excessively drained at night. By...
Solar Chimney
A **Solar Chimney** is an innovative and eco-friendly architectural feature designed to harness solar energy to improve ventilation and thermal comfort within buildings. By leveraging the natural principles of convection, a solar chimney facilitates the movement of air, drawing hot air upward and...
Solar Cooling
**Solar Cooling** refers to technologies and processes that use solar energy to provide air conditioning or refrigeration. Harnessing the power of the sun, these systems convert solar energy into thermal or electrical energy, which is then employed to drive cooling mechanisms. This sustainable...
Solar Desalination
**Solar Desalination** is an innovative and eco-friendly process that uses solar energy to convert saline or brackish water into fresh, potable water. By harnessing the power of the sun, this method provides a sustainable, low-cost solution to address the growing global demand for fresh water,...
Solar Energy Storage
**Solar Energy Storage** refers to the technologies and methods used to store the electrical energy generated by solar panels during periods of sunlight. This stored energy can then be utilized during cloudy days, nighttime, or peak energy demand times, ensuring a consistent and reliable power...
Solar Farm
A **Solar Farm** is an expansive installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels designed to harvest sunlight and convert it into electricity on a large scale. Unlike small residential solar panels found on rooftops, solar farms consist of thousands, sometimes millions, of individual panels spread...
Solar Inverter
A **Solar Inverter** is an essential component in any solar power system, designed to convert the direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the conventional form of electricity used in homes and businesses. This conversion is...
Solar Irradiance
**Solar Irradiance** refers to the power per unit area produced by the Sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation. This metric is crucial in understanding the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface, and it is typically measured in watts per square meter (W/m²). Solar irradiance...
Solar Microinverter
A **Solar Microinverter** is a compact electronic device used in photovoltaic (PV) systems to convert direct current (DC) generated by a single solar panel into alternating current (AC). Unlike traditional string inverters, which manage the energy from an entire array of solar panels,...
Solar Module
A **Solar Module**, often known as a solar panel, is a fundamental component in solar energy systems designed to convert sunlight into usable electricity. Comprising multiple solar cells made from semiconductor materials, such as silicon, these cells harness the photovoltaic effect to generate...
Solar Panel Efficiency
**Solar Panel Efficiency** is a critical metric that indicates the proportion of sunlight, or solar energy, that a solar panel can convert into usable electricity. This efficiency is measured as a percentage, reflecting the amount of sunlight hitting the panel's surface that is successfully...
Solar Pathway Light
A **Solar Pathway Light** is an eco-friendly, self-contained outdoor lighting solution that harnesses the power of the sun to illuminate walkways, driveways, gardens, and other outdoor spaces. These lights are equipped with photovoltaic panels that absorb sunlight during the day, converting it...
Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
A **Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)** is a financial arrangement in which a third-party developer owns, operates, and maintains a solar energy system, while a customer agrees to host the system on their property and purchase the electricity generated for a predetermined period. This...
Solar Power Satellite (SPS)
A **Solar Power Satellite (SPS)** is an innovative technology designed to harness solar energy in space and transmit it to Earth. Unlike terrestrial solar panels, which are subject to weather conditions and the day-night cycle, SPS leverages the continuous and unobstructed solar radiation...
Solar Power Tower
A **Solar Power Tower** is a type of solar thermal energy system that harnesses the sun's energy to generate electricity. It consists of a central tower surrounded by a large array of flat, sun-tracking mirrors known as heliostats. These heliostats reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a receiver...
Solar Radiation Management (SRM)
**Solar Radiation Management (SRM)** is a climate engineering approach aimed at reflecting a small percentage of the sun's light and heat back into space to reduce global temperatures. This innovative technology proposes various methods, such as the dispersal of reflective aerosols in the...
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)
**Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)** is a metric that quantifies a material’s ability to reflect solar heat and emit absorbed radiation. Essentially, it combines two important properties: solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Solar reflectance represents the fraction of solar energy reflected by...
Solar Shingles
**Solar Shingles**, also known as photovoltaic shingles, are innovative roofing materials designed to function both as conventional shingles and as solar panels. They capture solar energy and convert it into electricity for your home or business, offering a seamless and aesthetically pleasing...
Solar Spectrum
The **Solar Spectrum** refers to the range of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. This spectrum encompasses all wavelengths of light that are generated through solar processes, including ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) light. It is a critical component in understanding...
Solar Thermal Collector
A **Solar Thermal Collector** is a device designed to capture and harness sunlight in the form of thermal energy, which can then be used for heating water, space heating, or even power generation. These collectors work by absorbing solar radiation and converting it into heat, which is transferred...
Solar Tracker
A **Solar Tracker** is a precision-engineered device designed to orient solar panels or modules towards the sun continuously as it moves across the sky. This technology enhances the efficiency of solar energy systems by maximizing the capture of solar irradiance throughout the day. Solar trackers...
Solar Updraft Tower
A **Solar Updraft Tower** (SUT) is an ingenious and sustainable energy solution that harnesses the power of the sun to generate electricity. This green technology combines natural greenhouse effects with airflow dynamics to create a continuous cycle of energy production. The structure typically...
Solar Water Heating (SWH)
**Solar Water Heating (SWH)** is a technology that harnesses the power of the sun to heat water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use. The system primarily consists of solar thermal collectors, a water storage tank, and a circulation system. Solar thermal collectors are typically installed...
Solar Window Technology
**Solar Window Technology** refers to the innovative integration of photovoltaic materials into window panes, allowing them to generate electricity from sunlight. Unlike traditional solar panels, which are typically mounted on rooftops or in open spaces, solar windows seamlessly blend into...
Solar-Powered Transportation
## What is Solar-Powered Transportation? **Solar-Powered Transportation** refers to the use of solar energy to power various modes of transportation, including cars, buses, boats, and even airplanes. This innovative approach harnesses the power of the sun through photovoltaic (PV) panels, which...
Spent Nuclear Fuel
**Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF)** refers to the used fuel that has been irradiated in a nuclear reactor and is no longer efficient for sustaining a nuclear reaction. After several years of generating energy, nuclear fuel such as uranium oxide accumulates fission products and transuranic elements,...
Steam Generator (Nuclear Steam Raising Plant)
A **Steam Generator (Nuclear Steam Raising Plant)** is a critical component in nuclear power plants, playing a vital role in the conversion of nuclear energy into electrical energy. The steam generator functions as an intermediary device, transferring heat from the primary reactor coolant loop to...
Stellarator
A **Stellarator** is a type of nuclear fusion reactor that aims to replicate the sun's processes to produce clean and nearly limitless energy. Unlike the more commonly known tokamak, a stellarator uses intricate and non-axisymmetric magnetic fields to confine hot plasma in a steady state,...
Stochastic Weather Generators
**Stochastic Weather Generators (SWGs)** are sophisticated mathematical models that simulate weather conditions through the use of random variables and probabilities. By relying on historical climate data, these tools generate synthetic weather sequences that mimic the statistical properties of...
Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
**Stratospheric Aerosol Injection** (SAI) is a climate engineering technique aimed at reflecting a small portion of the sun's radiation back into space to reduce global temperatures. This method involves dispersing fine particles, such as sulfur dioxide, into the stratosphere, where they form...
Sulfate Aerosol Geoengineering
**Sulfate Aerosol Geoengineering** is a climate intervention technique aimed at mitigating global warming by increasing the Earth's albedo, or its ability to reflect sunlight. This method involves the deliberate injection of sulfate aerosols — tiny sulfur dioxide particles — into the...
Sustainability
**Sustainability** is the practice of meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is the harmonious integration of environmental health, economic viability, and social equity to ensure that human activities do not deplete or destroy...
Sustainable Agriculture
**Sustainable agriculture** is a farming approach that aims to produce food in a way that preserves the environment, supports economic viability, and enhances the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. This includes practices such as crop rotation, organic farming, agroforestry, and...
Sustainable Building Materials
**Sustainable Building Materials** are products that are utilized in construction projects with minimal impact on the environment, aiming to reduce carbon footprints, conserve natural resources, and promote human health and well-being. These materials are often derived from renewable sources,...
Sustainable Business Practices
**Sustainable Business Practices** refer to strategies and actions adopted by companies to operate in ways that safeguard the environment, contribute to social equity, and drive economic growth. These practices go beyond mere compliance with regulatory standards; they involve a proactive...
Sustainable Development
**Sustainable development** is a holistic approach that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It encompasses three main pillars: economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity. Sustainable development...
Sustainable Energy Transition
**Sustainable Energy Transition** refers to the comprehensive process of shifting from traditional fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable and low-carbon energy sources. This transition seeks to achieve a balance between meeting current energy needs and ensuring that the environmental,...
Sustainable Finance
**Sustainable Finance** refers to the practice of integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into financial services and investment decisions. This approach not only seeks to create long-term value for investors but also aims to generate a positive impact on society and the...
Sustainable Fisheries
**Sustainable Fisheries** refer to the practice of harvesting fish and other marine resources in a manner that can be maintained over the long term without compromising the health of aquatic ecosystems. This approach ensures that fish populations remain robust enough to support ongoing economic...
Sustainable Forestry
**Sustainable Forestry** refers to the practice of managing forest resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This process involves a balance between conserving ecosystem health and diversity, and enabling the forest...
Sustainable Investing
**Sustainable investing**, also known as socially responsible investing (SRI) or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, involves choosing investments based on their positive impact on society and the environment, alongside financial performance. Investors consider factors such as...
Sustainable Investment Fund
A **Sustainable Investment Fund** is a type of investment vehicle designed to align financial returns with positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes. These funds prioritize investments in companies and projects that demonstrate sustainable practices, ranging from renewable...
Sustainable Packaging
**Sustainable Packaging** refers to the development and use of packaging solutions that have minimal environmental impact and footprint. It is designed with the entire lifecycle of the product in mind, from production and transportation to end-of-life disposal and potential recycling or reuse. By...
Sustainable Supply Chain
A **sustainable supply chain** integrates environmental and social considerations into traditional supply chain management. It involves evaluating and improving the entire lifecycle of a product, from raw material extraction to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. This approach seeks...
Sustainable Tourism
**Sustainable Tourism** refers to the concept of traveling and exploring the world in a way that ensures the preservation of natural environments, respects local cultures, and contributes to the well-being of local communities. The primary goal of this approach is to minimize the negative impacts...
Sustainable Transportation
**Sustainable transportation** involves systems and practices that reduce environmental impact, promote energy efficiency, and enhance mobility. This includes public transportation, electric and hybrid vehicles, cycling, walking, and car-sharing programs. Sustainable transportation aims to...
Sustainable Urbanization
**Sustainable Urbanization** refers to the development of urban areas that are environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. This concept emphasizes the creation and perpetuation of cities that minimize ecological impact, leverage resource efficiency, and enhance the quality of life...
Sustainable Water Management
**Sustainable Water Management** refers to the strategic planning, development, distribution, and usage of water resources in a way that meets current demands without compromising the needs of future generations. It encompasses practices that promote efficient water use, minimize wastage, and...