PERC

Solar energy term definition

Definition

Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell -- a solar cell technology that adds a passivation layer to the rear surface, reflecting unabsorbed light back through the cell for a second pass. PERC cells achieve 20-22% efficiency and have been the industry standard since 2019.

Related Solar Terms

  • Photovoltaic (PV)

    The technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconduc...

  • Kilowatt (kW)

    A unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts. Residential solar systems are t...

  • Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)

    A unit of electrical energy equal to one kilowatt of power sustained for one hou...

  • Net Metering

    A billing arrangement where excess solar electricity sent to the grid earns cred...

  • Inverter

    A device that converts the DC (direct current) electricity produced by solar pan...

View Full Glossary

Understanding solar terminology helps you communicate more effectively with installers and evaluate quotes accurately. Use our solar cost database to find fair prices for any solar service.