Definition
The technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials. Solar panels are made of photovoltaic cells, typically silicon-based, that generate DC electricity when photons strike the cell surface.
Related Solar Terms
- 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...
- String Inverter
A central inverter that converts DC to AC for an entire string of solar panels. ...
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