Photovoltaic Professional English VocabularyGlossary Activated shelf life The time it takes for the capacity of a charged battery to fall to an unusable level when stored at a specified temperature Ac

y made of glass or plastic. Angle of incidence: The angle between the incoming solar radiation and a perpendicular line to the surface it strikes. This affects the amount of energy that can be captured by a solar panel. Array: A group of solar panels connected together to generate electricity. Array voltage: The total voltage produced by a solar panel array. Back-up power: A secondary power source that can be used when the primary power source is unavailable or fails. Battery: A device that stores electrical energy and releases it when needed. BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics): Solar panels integrated into the design of a building, such as solar shingles or windows. BOS (Balance of System): The non-module components of a solar PV system, such as wiring, inverters, and mounting systems. Charge controller: A device that regulates the flow of electrical energy from a solar panel to a battery to prevent overcharging and damage to the battery. Conversion efficiency: The percentage of sunlight that is converted into electrical energy by a solar panel. Crystalline silicon: A solar PV cell material made from pure silicon crystals. It is the most widely used material for solar panels. Direct current (DC): Electrical current that flows in one direction only. This is the type of current produced by solar panels. Efficiency: The ability of a solar panel to convert sunlight into electrical energy. Encapsulation: The process of sealing a solar panel to protect it from the elements. Feed-in tariff: A program that compensates solar PV system owners for the electricity they generate and feed back into the grid. Grid-tied: A solar PV system that is connected to the electrical grid. Inverter: A device that converts DC current from a solar panel into AC current that can be used to power electrical devices. Kilowatt (kW): A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts. Kilowatt-hour (kWh): A unit of energy equal to the energy consumed by a 1,000-watt device in one hour. Module: A single solar panel. Net metering: A program that allows solar PV system owners to receive credit for excess electricity they generate and feed back into the grid. Off-grid: A solar PV system that is not connected to the electrical grid. Photovoltaic (PV): The process of converting sunlight into electrical energy using solar panels. Polycrystalline silicon: A solar PV cell material made from multiple silicon crystals. It is less efficient than crystalline silicon, but also less expensive. PV cell: A device that converts sunlight into electrical energy. PV system: A complete solar power system that includes solar panels, wiring, inverters, and other components. Renewable energy: Energy that is derived from renewable sources, such as sunlight, wind, and water. Solar panel: A device that converts sunlight into electrical energy. Stand-alone: A solar PV system that is not connected to the electrical grid and relies on batteries for energy storage. Thin-film: A type of solar PV cell material that is much thinner than crystalline silicon. It is less efficient, but also less expensive and more flexible. Watt (W): A unit of power equal to one joule per second