Solar Glossary
Solar Glossary A–Z
300+ solar energy and photovoltaic terms, clearly explained for installers, designers, engineers, and sales professionals.
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A
A
33 terms
AC (Alternating Current)AC ModuleAC-Coupled SystemActive and Reactive PowerActive Solar EnergyAdder (Project Cost Adder)Aerial Imagery ImportAerial Roof ScanAgrivoltaicsAHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)AHJ ComplianceAHJ LookupsAI-Based Solar DesignAlbedoAmpacityAngle of IncidenceAnnual Degradation RateAnti-IslandingAPI & WebhooksArc FlashArc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)Array Boundary ToolAs-Built DrawingsASCE 7 (Structural Loading Standard)Asset Management (Solar)Auto BOM GenerationAuto Inverter SelectionAuto-DesignAuto-StringingAutoCAD Solar LayoutAutomated Shading AnalysisAvailability GuaranteeAzimuth
B
B
21 terms
BacksheetBalance of Plant (BOP)Balance of System (BOS)Ballasted RackingBankabilityBase Load EstimationBattery Cycle LifeBattery Form FactorBattery Management System (BMS)Battery StorageBattery Time-Shift ModelingBehind-the-Meter (BTM)Bifacial GainBifacial Solar PanelBill of Materials (BOM)Bill of Quantities (BOQ)BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics)Bonding (Electrical)Budgetary QuoteBusbarBypass Diode
C
C
22 terms
C-RateCAD ExportCAD-to-PV MappingCapacity FactorCarbon Footprint (Solar)CEC Weighted EfficiencyCell EfficiencyChange OrderCharge ControllerCharge RateCombiner BoxCommercial Solar ModelingCommunity SolarComponent LibraryConduit FillConsumption Profile ImportContractor TermsCost Per Watt ($/W)Critical Load PanelCRM IntegrationCurtailmentCurtailment Modeling
D
D
19 terms
Data LoggerDC (Direct Current)DC-Coupled SystemDealer FeeDecommissioning PlanDegradation RateDemand ChargeDemand ResponseDepth of Discharge (DoD)Design AutomationDesign Review WorkflowDesign Variant ComparisonDHI (Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance)Digital Twin ModelingDisconnect SwitchDistributed GenerationDNI (Direct Normal Irradiance)Drone-Based Solar SurveyDue Diligence (Solar)
E
E
18 terms
Electrical Line DiagramsElectrical SLD (Single Line Diagram)Electrical Three-Line DiagramElectrification (Solar)Embodied CarbonEnergy ForecastingEnergy ModelingEnergy Payback TimeEnergy Production ForecastingEnergy Storage System (ESS)EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction)Equipment DatasheetsEquipment Grounding ConductorEscalator (Lease/PPA)Euro EfficiencyEV + Solar IntegrationExport Limit ControlExport Limiting
F
F
9 terms
G
G
15 terms
H
H
14 terms
I
I
21 terms
IEC 61215IEC 61730IEEE 1547IFC/BIM IntegrationIncentive APIIndependent Power ProducerInsolationInterconnection AgreementInterconnection DocumentsInterconnection QueueInverter ClippingInverter Loading RatioInverter SizingInvertersInvestment Tax Credit (ITC)IP RatingIrradianceIrradiance Heat MappingIslanding-Capable InverterIV CurveIV Curve Tracing
J
J
1 term
K
K
4 terms
L
L
19 terms
Labeling RequirementsLabor Cost CalculatorLat/Long Auto-DetectionLCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy)Lead Nurture AutomationLead ScoringLead Source AttributionLead-to-Proposal AutomationLFP BatteryLiDAR Data IntegrationLiDAR Roof ModelLine LossesLoad AnalysisLoad Profile AnalysisLoan/Cash/PPA ModelingLocal Incentives DatabaseLockout/TagoutLoss AnalysisLoss Factor Calculation
M
M
21 terms
MACRS DepreciationMain Panel UpgradeMap-Based Roof DetectionMaximum Power PointMegawattMerchant Risk (Solar)MicrogridMicroinverterMLPE (Module-Level Power Electronics)Module DegradationModule Placement OptimizationModule-Level MismatchMonocrystalline SiliconMonthly Production SimulationMounting Load CalculatorMounting StructureMounting Structure DesignMPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)MTTR (Mean Time to Repair)MV Cable
N
N
15 terms
O
O
11 terms
P
P
46 terms
P50/P90PACE FinancingPanel DegradationPanel Derate FactorPanel Layout Auto-FillPanel LifespanPanel Spacing OptimizationParcel/Property DataPayback Period CalculationPE StampPeak LoadPeak ShavingPeak Sun HoursPERC Solar CellPerformance Modeling EnginePerformance RatioPerformance SimulationPermission to Operate (PTO)Permit Design SetPermit PackagePermit Package GenerationPerovskite Solar CellPhotovoltaic (PV)Pitch Measurement ToolPlan SetPlane-of-Array IrradiancePOA IrradiancePoint Cloud ImportPolycrystalline SiliconPolysiliconPower DensityPower FactorPower OptimizerPower Purchase AgreementPredictive MaintenanceProduction GuaranteeProduction MonitoringProduction Tax Credit (PTC)Project Lifecycle ManagementProposal APIProposal BuilderProposal GenerationProposal Presentation ModePV CombinerPV SystemPVcase 3D Modeling
R
R
20 terms
Racking LayoutRacking SystemRamp RateRapid ShutdownRated PowerReal-Time Cost EstimationReal-Time Production SimulationRemote Measuring ToolRemote Site SurveyRenewable EnergyRenewable Energy CertificateRepoweringResilienceROI (Solar)Roof Pitch MeasurementRoof Pitch ScannerRoof SegmentationRoof Shading ReportRooftop SolarRound-Trip Efficiency
S
S
44 terms
SCADA (Solar)Scope 1/2/3 EmissionsShade ReportShading AnalysisShort-Circuit CurrentSite PlanSmart GridSmart InverterSmart MeterSnow Load CalculationSoiling Degradation ModelingSoiling LossSolar ArraySolar CarportSolar CellSolar EnergySolar FarmSolar InverterSolar IrradianceSolar Layout OptimizationSolar LeaseSolar PanelSolar Panel RecyclingSolar PV LibrarySolar Savings CalculatorSolar ThermalSolar TrackerSolar Water HeaterSolar Zenith & AzimuthSolar-Plus-StorageSpecial Purpose Vehicle (SPV)Specific YieldSREC (Solar Renewable Energy Certificate)State of ChargeSTC (Standard Test Conditions)String InverterString Map Auto-GenerationString MonitoringStringing & Electrical DesignStructural LetterSubstationSun Path DiagramSurge Protection DeviceSystem Loss Diagram
T
T
12 terms
U
U
5 terms
V
V
12 terms
W
W
9 terms
X
X
1 term
Y
Y
2 terms
Z
Z
1 term
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