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glossary
Solar Farm
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Inverter
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Irradiance
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Solar Microinverter
June 28th, 2024 • 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,...
glossary
Solar Module
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Panel Efficiency
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Solar Pathway Light
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Power Satellite (SPS)
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Power Tower
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Radiation Management (SRM)
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Solar Shingles
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Solar Spectrum
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Thermal Collector
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Tracker
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Updraft Tower
June 28th, 2024 • 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...
glossary
Solar Water Heating (SWH)
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Solar Window Technology
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Spent Nuclear Fuel
June 28th, 2024 • **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,...
glossary
Stellarator
June 28th, 2024 • 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,...
glossary
Stochastic Weather Generators
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Sulfate Aerosol Geoengineering
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
glossary
Sustainability
June 28th, 2024 • **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...
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