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| Energy produced by alternative means like wind and solar. |
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| A type of PV cell manufactured without a crystallne structure. Can be made in flexible sheets. Not as efficient as crystallalline silicon. |
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| A collection of electricity connected Photovoltaic modules. |
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| The electrical current produced by a PV array when exposed to sunlight. |
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| British Thermal Unit- The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. |
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| The average amount of electric power that a utility must supply. |
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| The increase in solar intensity caused by reflected irradiance from nearby clouds. |
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| A type of PV cell made from a single crystal or polycrystalline slice of silicon. |
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| The month having the combination of insolation and load that requires the maximum energy from the array. |
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| Angle at which a ray of light strikes a planar surface (module). |
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| The desired angle that a PV array should be mounted. |
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| Radiation received by direct solar rays. |
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| Time when the PV system cannot provide for the load. Expressed in hour per year or the percentage equivalent. |
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The ratio of output power to input power, expressed as a percent.
Wattage X Efficiency (2500w input X .90% output = 2250w) |
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| A PV array set at a fixed angle with respect to horizontal. |
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| The solar radiation incident on an area over time. Equivalent to energy and usually expressed in kilowatt hours per square meter. |
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| The solar power incident on a surface. Usually expressed in kilowatts per square meter. |
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| Placement with respect to the directions, N, S, E, W, in most cases azimuth is the measure of orientation from North but in PV it is measured from Solar South. |
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| The equivalent of number of hours per day when solar irradiance averages on sun (1kw/m2). 5 Peak Sun Hours X 1000w/m2 = 5kwh/m2. |
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| A type of array mounting system where module are installed at an elevation on a pedestal. |
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| A sensor that measures direct solar radiation. |
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| A type of fixed or adjustable tilt array mounting system with a triangular shaped structure to increase the tilt angle of the array. |
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| A PV array that follows the path of the sun. It can be one or two axis. |
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| All of the solar radiation reaching earth's surface. |
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| The angle between directly overhead and the line intersecting the sun. It is the elevation angle of the sun above the horizon. |
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