http://www.enlight.energy/blog/rss/feedsExplore our complete solar panel solutions. Whether you're looking for a solar system for home or business, EnLight.Energy has what you need.Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:35:33 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/harnessing-the-power-of-sunlight-how-do-solar-panels-workhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/harnessing-the-power-of-sunlight-how-do-solar-panels-work Jacksonville, Florida homeowner laying down on his solar panel system Solar panels are a popular way to generate clean, renewable energy from the sun. But how do they work? In this blog, we'll break down the basics of how solar panels work in layman's terms. Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are typically made of silicon. When sunlight hits the PV cells, it creates an electric field that causes electrons to flow, generating direct current (DC) electricity. This electricity can then be used to power your home, business, or stored in a battery for later use. But how do PV cells turn sunlight into electricity? The process starts with the sun's rays, which contain particles of energy called photons. When photons hit the surface of a PV cell, they knock electrons loose from the atoms in the cell's silicon material. These loose electrons then flow through the cell's electric field and are collected by metal contacts on the top and bottom of the cell. This creates a flow of electricity that can be used to power your home or business. Solar panels are typically installed on the roof or ground-mounted in an area with plenty of sunlight. To maximize energy production, solar panels are usually angled towards the sun and placed facing south in the northern hemisphere and facing north in the southern hemisphere. In addition, solar panels work best in cool temperatures, so they are designed to allow for airflow underneath them to keep them from overheating. The amount of electricity that a solar panel can produce depends on several factors, including the size of the panel, the amount of sunlight it receives, and the efficiency of the PV cells. Modern solar panels are highly efficient and can produce a significant amount of energy even on cloudy days. In addition, if your solar panel system produces more energy than you need, you may be able to sell the excess energy back to the grid or store it in a battery for later use. Overall, solar panels are a simple and effective way to generate clean, renewable energy from the sun. By harnessing the power of sunlight, you can reduce your reliance on traditional sources of electricity and help contribute to a more sustainable future. If you're interested in installing solar panels with EnLight.Energy, be sure to speak with a solar professional to learn more about how solar energy can work for you. Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:47:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/money-saving-home-improvementhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/money-saving-home-improvementAs homeowners, we all know the struggle of high energy bills. At EnLight.Energy, we understand the burden that high energy bills can bring, and we're here to help you protect yourself from energy hikes and lower your monthly energy bills. Our mission is to provide homeowners with energy-efficient solutions that are sustainable, cost-effective, and reduce their carbon footprint. Here are five ways EnLight.Energy can help you save money on your energy bills: Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances: Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances is one of the easiest ways to reduce your energy consumption and save money. EnLight.Energy can guide you towards a wide range of energy-efficient appliances that are designed to use less electricity while still providing the same level of performance as their less efficient counterparts. Install a Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat is an excellent investment for homeowners looking to reduce their energy bills. It allows you to set different temperature levels for different times of the day, so your heating and cooling system only operates when it's needed. This can significantly reduce your energy consumption and save you money in the long run. Consider Renewable Energy Sources: Enlight.Energy offers a wide range of renewable energy solutions, including residential solar systems. Installing solar panels on your roof can significantly reduce your reliance on the grid, resulting in lower energy bills and increased energy independence. Conduct a Home Energy Audit: A home energy audit is an excellent way to identify areas where you're wasting energy and how you can improve your home's energy efficiency. Our professional energy auditors can conduct a comprehensive assessment of your home's energy use, identifying areas where you can make improvements, such as insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing. Join a Community Solar Program: If your home does not qualify for solar panels and it is already as efficienct as it can be, Enlight.Energy can help you find a community solar program that allows homeowners to purchase shares in a solar energy system. This provides you with access to clean energy while also lowering your monthly energy bills. You'll receive a credit on your energy bill for the amount of energy your share of the solar system produces. In conclusion, at Enlight.Energy, we're committed to helping homeowners achieve their energy goals. By investing in energy-efficient appliances, installing a programmable thermostat, considering renewable energy sources, conducting a home energy audit, or joining a community solar program, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption and save money in the long run. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you protect yourself from energy hikes and reduce your monthly energy bills.Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:43:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/the-buying-power-of-efficiencyhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/the-buying-power-of-efficiency The average home in the U.S. spends $2,200 on energy each year. That’s $183/month. Rather than spending this money on energy purchases, the smart approach is to invest it in greater energy efficiency. If you’re building a new home, it’s possible to reduce your energy purchases to zero with the buying power gained from that same $183. Here’s how it works. If you have a 30-year mortgage at about 4.2%, you can cover the additional payments on an increase in your loan of about $37,500 for energy saving features for your home. That’s enough to turn most home designs into zero energy homes, before incentives. Federal and state tax credits along with utility incentives will increase your savings even further. The buying power of energy savings will often cover the entire cost of zero energy home features when those monthly payments are rolled into your mortgage. Despite the fact that few people dispute that energy improvements pay off over time, it’s often difficult to justify the initial cost. Lenders can play an important role by facilitating financing of energy features through mortgages for both new and existing homes. Since this is not yet common practice, consumers need to take the lead by demonstrating to lenders how the monthly energy savings will fully cover the amount added to the mortgage by the energy saving features. Formula Failure Most home buyers are familiar with the way that lenders decide how much money you can afford to spend on a home. They divide the monthly payments for the home by your monthly income. That debt-to-income ratio needs to be between 28 and 32%, although it varies by lender and loan product. There are two critical things missing from this approach. First, occupants of energy efficient homes have more discretionary income than those living in conventional homes, because they have lower bills with less variation over the seasons. This is why they are less likely to default on mortgages. The debt-to-income ratio can be raised for these borrowers through programs such as Energy Efficient Mortgages. Second, the cost formula needs updating. Currently, it looks like this: Principal + Interest + Taxes + Insurance = PITI. Unfortunately, the cost calculation leaves out a major factor: energy. Energy bills arrive every month, just like all the others. Energy costs often exceed homeowners insurance and sometimes property taxes. Energy should be added to the formula so that it looks like this: PITI+E, or PITIE, allowing borrowers to shift dollars from the E to the P and the I. Lenders should recognize this as an opportunity to increase borrowing as well as the fees they charge. In the end, it’s a win/win situation. Smart Borrowing Strategies The federal government establishes lending standards for loans sold to the secondary market. This means that organizations, such as Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, purchase mortgages so that loan originators can lend the money to others. Only loans that conform to federal standards are purchased, so they have a powerful influence over the market. The U.S. Senate has been trying to pass a law to include energy considerations in mortgage standards for several years, without success. Although most lenders package their mortgage loans for the secondary market, some hold the loans themselves. Many of these are local banks and credit unions. If you want more flexible underwriting rules, shop around for a lender that holds the mortgage themselves and understands this issue. While these energy issues should be an integral part of the home financing process, there are a couple of special programs that aim to fill the void. Some communities offer Property Assessed Clean Energy programs also called PACE loans. Fannie Mae supports energy improvements for new and existing homes with a program called HomeStyle Energy. Admirals Bank offers up to $40,000.00 in a renewable energy loan for solar collectors, which can be added to a zero energy ready home after construction. Opportunity for Cash Buyers Some buyers don’t need bank financing. Many older buyers who downsize use their equity to pay the entire cost. While capital isn’t a problem, retirees often see their “fixed income” status as a reason to pass on energy improvements. That’s a missed opportunity. Cash buyers can see very safe returns on their energy investments. Many retirees place at least some of their funds in certificates of deposit (CDs) and U.S. Treasury Bonds because there is almost no risk. The return on 10-year CDs is around 1 to 2% and the return on 10-year treasuries is around 2%. Instead of parking $38,000 in a CD or Treasury Bond or risking it in the stock market, you could invest that money in your home to eliminate energy purchases for the rest of your life and add to the resale value of your home if you sell it. That’s savings of approximately $183 per month or $2,196 per year. The yearly return on investment from that $38,000 would be 5.7% per year. If energy prices go up as they are likely to, your return will be even higher. In other words, your return is inflation protected. And in many cases, your $38,000 investment is further enhanced by tax credits and rebates which will increase the rate of return on your investment. Well-planned energy efficiency features almost always pay for themselves. While there are several financing mechanisms to support this kind of investment, they are still outside the mainstream. The burden is on the buyer to pursue them. Energy improvements need to become an essential part of real estate transactions. The benefits accrue to everyone involved, including buyers, sellers, brokers, lenders, contractors and equipment suppliers. Everyone wins when homes are energy efficient. This article was first published by The Zero Energy Project here.Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:02:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/9-ways-to-go-and-save-more-greenhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/9-ways-to-go-and-save-more-green There’s no doubt about it, the “green economy” has gone global, as more and more sustainable-minded individuals and organizations have embraced the notion of a clean, environmentally friendly economy that promotes health, wealth, and well-being. The green economy is a thriving economy, as well—with overall global trade in environmental goods pegged at $1 trillion annually, a figure that should grow to $2-to-$3 trillion by 2020, according to United Nations Environment. How to Go Green While Boosting Your Personal Finances by Experian 75% of Americans want to help the environment in their daily lives, and they certainly can still keeping their budgets intact. In this podcast, we share some eco-friendly tips on how you can leave less of a carbon footprint without breaking the bank. That’s a “big picture” snapshot of the green economy. Yet if you look more closely, there is a burgeoning network of individual local green economies at work, too. This network is comprised of people living sustainable lives, and not only saving money, but earning money in the process. How so? By tying personal financial outcomes into the increasingly “green living” choices they’re making in their lives. “People can go green and boost their personal finances along the way,” says Julio Daniel Hernandez, chief executive officer at EnLight.Energy, a company that helps people and business curb their energy bills. Ways to save and earn cash by going green What can individuals do to earn greenbacks while going green? Read on, and check out how people are leveraging sustainable living into financial reward, and how you can do the same: Be a shower saver You can save money on your water bill by install water saving showers, that use less water, says Thomas Jepsen, chief executive officer of ContractorQuotes.us. “Lots of people are upgrading to Energy Star appliances that consume less energy, as well, and are saving money on energy and water bills,” Jepsen notes. Get an energy audit from your local electric company Another good household energy idea—get an audit to see where you’re overspending on electricity, says Shel Horowitz, a green/transformative business profitability expert located in South Hadley, Mass. “Get an energy audit from your local electric company and save money on bills,” Horowitz advises. “Power companies are under instructions to encourage conservation, so they typically do energy audits for free or for a $10 or $20 fee.” Embrace solar energy One more tip on the energy front—go solar. “If you’ve already gotten a handle on your energy and have optimized your home for maximum efficiency then it’s time to find out if your home is a good fit for solar,” says Hernandez. “Depending on what state you live in and the specifics of your home, your payback period can range from 5-10 years. In some solar-friendly states you can sign up for a Power Purchase Agreement and take advantage of clean energy at a cost at least 20%-to-30% lower than what the electric company charges without having to take out a loan.” (For a detailed look at how solar might work with your home, visit Google Project Sunroof.) Driving an electric or hybrid vehicle While the initial cost of buying an electric or hybrid vehicle can be higher than a gas-powered one, overall, the long-term cost of driving an energy efficient vehicle saves significant money. According to a recent study on electric vehicles from CarMax “owners report that they spend less on fuel (or none at all), and annual maintenance costs, and just over half cite spending under $100 per year. Some drivers also take advantage of HOV toll-free lane allowances in their cities and are eligible to earn state and federal tax rebates.” Upgrade your heating and air units By upgrading an old and inefficient air conditioner and/or furnace, you not only help the environment but will save money in utilities at the same time, says Brian Schraut, owner of R.F. Schraut Heating & Cooling in St. Louis, Mo. “Additionally, many energy companies offer an instant cash rebate for upgrading your unit, sometimes as much as $1,000.” Schraut notes. It’s also worth noting that many U.S. states offer rebate on energy-related units like heat pumps, water heaters and smart thermostats. Check with your state’s department of energy for more details. Or, visit this website for a list of state-by-state energy contacts. List your parking space Residents of Los Angeles are listing their parking space with Pavemint, a new peer-to-peer green mobile app that connects people looking for parking with people who have parking to share. “Not only does that put extra cash in your pockets, it also helps the environment,” says Sarah Zurell, chief brand officer at the company. “By hosting your space on the app and helping people get off the roads faster, you also help reduce the 30% of city traffic due to the way we currently park, and the resulting 54 million tons of CO2 dumped into the air.” Rent out your car Rent out your car with either the Turo app or Mavan Car Sharing. “Start biking to work while you make money and reduce your carbon footprint,” says Zurell. Go green with your investment portfolio Be creative with your money and invests in “direct” green initiatives, says Michael Dinich, a financial planner with Your Money Matters, in Sayre, Pa. “In working with my clients who wanted to invest in sustainable environmental causes, we decided it was best to engage the green movement directly,” says Dinich. “Instead of investing in solar companies, for example, we created relationships with solar installers and work with the available federal and tax incentives and clients Installed solar and wind directly on their property.” It turned out to be a great investment for the clients, as the energy savings and renewable energy credits payed for the installations in as short of five years. “Plus, the tax credits were used to offset taxes on income and used to convert traditional IRAs to Roth IRA’s,” he says. Get thrifty with your clothes One major way you can go green and save money is shopping in thrift stores for your clothing, says Alicia McElhaney, founder of She Spends, a personal financial newsletter geared toward women. “Making new clothing is labor intensive and it sucks up gas to transport most fast fashion items from across the world,” McElhaney states. “Thrifting is a way of recycling clothing, avoiding high gas expenditures and accessing brands that you otherwise might not be able to reach because they’re often much cheaper at the thrift store.” These aren’t the only ways to save and earn money from adopting a greener lifestyle, but they’re at or near the top of the list. Consequently, embrace as many of the above tips as you can, and watch your bank account grow, as you contribute to a greener, more sustainable planet. *This article was originally posted by Brian O'Connell for Experian Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/how-long-can-you-recover-the-cost-of-solar-panelshttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/how-long-can-you-recover-the-cost-of-solar-panels The past few decades saw huge developments in the use of solar power. These grid panels can use solar energy and turn it into electricity. Many neighborhoods have at least one house with solar panels installed on the roof. Someone may have passed by your house offering solar panels for your home. These solar company representatives can be found just about everywhere. You may not have explored the use of solar power for your home since you are not familiar with how the whole system works. You may have also thought it is expensive. Many people feel the same way. They are not using solar energy simply because they are not sure how much they have to spend on it. They may also be wondering when they can recover the cost. Solar panel cost The first thing to consider is the cost of installing solar panels on your roof. While the sun provides free energy for billions of years, it is costly to keep our planet safe. EnergySage, a solar marketing company based in New England, offers a way to compute the average cost of getting solar panels. You can look into the price per watt. This price is rather consistent all around the country. For this year, many homeowners are spending from $2.87 up to $3.85 for every watt when they install solar panels. The gross average cost of solar panels before the tax credit reaches up to $16,800. These numbers are based on data from EnergySage. When you put in the tax credits, the price will go down to between $10,000 and $13,500. This is based on a regular 5 kilowatt or 5,000-watt system that is normally used in the United States. These figures are around nine percent lower compared to a year ago, according to EnergySage. But, the company is also advising potential users to compare prices given to homeowners in the neighborhood. Since you already know the cost of the system, you should consider the time it takes to recover this cost. When will you recover the cost The digital marketing strategist of BestCompany.com for solar coverage, Sarah Hancock says three factors determine the time to recover the cost. BestCompany.com is an online review website that classifies companies coming from different industries. 1. Present electricity prices Hancock says you can save money using solar power if the price of electricity in your area is high. This allows you to recover the cost faster. Hancock added that California residents can recover the cost faster than Washington residents. Electricity prices in California are at $0.17 per kilowatt-hour. On the other hand, Washington electricity prices are at $0.09 per kilowatt-hour. Due to this, California residents can save on their monthly electricity bill. 2. Available incentives States offer different incentives. These incentives include rebates, tax exemptions, tax credits, and performance payments. You can recover the cost faster if there are more available incentives. Paradise Energy Solutions marketing manager Andy Schell said one incentive is a federal tax credit of 30 percent. The tax credits allow users to recover 30 percent of what they spend on the project. If the 30 percent is not recovered within one year, it is carried over for twenty years until the tax credit is used. Qualified farms and businesses can also use accelerated depreciation schedules and USDA grants. You can check for solar energy incentives you can use in your state. 3. Payment method Hancock says you have some options on how you can pay for the solar panels. You can purchase them outright or get a loan for them. It is also possible for you to lease or use a PPA or power purchase agreement. The PPA is a financial agreement allowing developers to manage the design, permits, financing options, and install the system. This agreement is good for ten to twenty-five years. But, some studies indicate that home value goes up when you use a PPA or lease to upgrade your home. Upfront purchases or using a loan means the buyer of the house does not need to pay for the electricity from the panels since it was already paid for. On the other hand, the buyer will pay for the electricity with a PPA. But, the rate will be lower compared to those getting their electricity from the local power company. A PPA can be transferred easily. The buyer or seller can also buy it out. The method of payment you can use for a faster investment recovery time depends on the state and the two other factors, the price of the utility and incentives available. A loan can be used if the state has high electricity prices and a good number of available incentives. In this situation, your savings from utility expenses may be higher compared to your monthly loan payments. On the other hand, an outright purchase is better for states with fewer incentives and low electricity rates. Hancock added that many users usually recover the cost of going solar within fifteen to twenty-five years. Comparing leasing a solar panel system with an outright purchase EnLight.Energy CEO Julio Daniel Hernandez said the company guides homeowners on deciding the payment method to use based on their tax liability. EnLight.Energy is a renewable energy firm. He said homeowners should take advantage of all loans and tax credit available. This is applicable to homeowners whose tax liability a big enough for them to benefit from state and federal tax incentives. But, a PPA or lease is more practical if they do not have any tax liability. With this, they can use their solar energy system to power their homes at a cost lesser than current utility prices. They can save up to 20 percent when they use solar energy and they may not even have to spend anything. Hernandez has a more liberal computation when it comes to recovering the cost of the investment. He said there is nothing to recover when a PPA or lease is used since the homeowner did not pay for anything. They immediately start saving. He said it is similar to third party electric companies in deregulated markets. But, if the solar panel system is bought using the available incentives, the recovery period is around eight years or even shorter. Incentives and pricing Early adopters of solar power ten years ago had all the incentives waiting for them to use. But, the situation is different these days since more people are using solar power as their main source of energy. Similar to other technologies, costs go down as the technology develops. The number of incentives available these days are fewer compared to a decade ago. This is due to the increasing popularity of the use of solar energy. But, Hancock said solar panel prices have gone down by over sixty percent in the last decade. Due to this, solar power is still affordable even with the fewer incentives offered by local and federal authorities. Is solar power a good investment? Solar power is a good investment in many states since it offers a considerable return in twenty to thirty years. For instance, California users buying solar power systems outright can expect a return of around $30,000 to $40,000 within 25 years. On the other hand, Washington residents can expect a $10,000 return in the same period. While the dollar-on-dollar return is not high for Washington residents compared to California residents, they can both save money when they use solar power. Hernandez said the value of homes may go up by $15,000 when solar panels are installed. While some of the increase depends on the system size, research shows that most of the increase in value is based on the installation of panels in general and not in the size. This article was originally published by top5best.org. Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:53:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/a-more-complete-solution-to-the-energy-opportunity-we-facehttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/a-more-complete-solution-to-the-energy-opportunity-we-face Check out the latest episode of the Green Business Podcast Show by Eric Dye as he interviews our CEO and they discuss why EnLight.Energy decided to not just be another solar only installer, the impact of a Trump presidency on the renewable energy industry in America, our work with developing communities around the world, and why we chose a local energy franchise model. ERIC: Today we are speaking with Julio Daniel Hernandez, CEO, and Founder of EnLight.Energy, a national company that helps home and business owners explore ways to drastically lower and eliminate their energy bills. Happy to have you back on the show Julio. How are you? JULIO DANIEL: Doing great Eric thanks for having me. ERIC: Now we know it's a rapidly evolving industry and last time on the show you were helping to run solar company Renew Energy... JULIO DANIEL: That's right ERIC: We know that you celebrated the 1 year anniversary of EnLight.Energy last April, a company which you Founded and currently lead...congratulations by the way... JULIO DANIEL: Thank you ERIC: I gotta be frank Julio, it seems like there is an increasing amount of solar companies popping up every day and I have to wonder...how in the world in EnLight.Energy any different from other solar companies out there? JULIO DANIEL: Great question Eric. Well, first of all, we welcome the idea of entrepreneurs and top talent entering our industry and see this only as a good thing. ERIC: Okay JULIO DANIEL: With that said, when building EnLight.Energy we knew that the last thing we wanted to build was just another solar only installer. ERIC: Interesting, go on. JULIO DANIEL: So as we dug in and questioned everything we landed on the fact that as cool as solar was, we didn't want to marry a product but instead we were committed to providing as much value as possible to our customers... ERIC: Okay that makes sense JULIO DANIEL: It does, and so this led us to not only make sure we had several solar options available, but also the latest smart energy monitoring technology and the newest and most effective energy efficiency solutions that we could use to help homeowners take a more comprehensive take on ways to upgrade their home's current energy infrastructure, for lack of a better phrase. ERIC: hmm... I really like this JULIO DANIEL: So long story short, we are NOT JUST A SOLAR COMPANY, we are a smart energy home improvement company and now can help someone adopt solutions that can lower their energy bills, renovate their home towards drastically lowering their energy cost, and if someone is in the market, we can even help them build or purchase a Zero Energy Home! ERIC: Oh wow! This is really impressive and I'm excited for you guys. Now I don't want to be negative, but I follow the industry and keep up with the news and can't help but to bring up politics... with a Trump presidency and a Republican majority, do you think the industry and renewable energy adoption will take a hit? JULIO DANIEL: Good question. My answer is ...not as much as you would think and definitely not in the long term. I mean sure, renewable energy progress was driven by environmentalist for a long time, I'm very thankful for that ...but in a weird way, because of that it would seem as though the future would continue to be dependent on power and lobbying from those on the left... but that's just simply not the case anymore. ERIC: What do you mean? JULIO DANIEL: Well you see technology and the economics behind clean energy have reached a point of no return. Every American without regard to their political inclination wants to pay less every month for their electricity, gas and oil bills. Every American likes the idea of creating jobs, of preparing our people for the industries of the future, every American would like to see America be an energy independent country... I can go on and on but the fact is that renewable energy, and its development, is as American as it gets, and it is far cry from the rainbows and butterflies idea that some used to perceive it to be. In fact... I would go as far as saying that we have the opportunity to let it be the backbone of American and world economy for years to come. ERIC: Wow. Never thought about it that way. Great point. now, EnLight.Energy is an American company, but I've noticed you are quite engaged with developing countries as part of your social outreach... let's shift gears a little bit and tell us a little be more about that. JULIO DANIEL: You know...I've always had a personal interest and passion towards empowering the underprivileged and I've now been fortunate to have had the chance to spend time with organizations across the globe working with developing communities in places like Arusha and Moshi in Tanzania, Mai Maheu in Kenya and other rural areas all around Latin America. ERIC: Nice JULIO DANIEL: Yeah you know, at first I was curious to see what we could directly build in those areas to make an impact but what I've recently come to terms with is that there are tons of solid organizations on the ground in those places that are focused on using renewable energy as an instrument to help transform those communities... and humbly, that the best way to help those families get access to some of the renewable energy technology that is reshaping the world right now is by partnering with those awesome organizations. So we are taking on more of a supportive role and For example, in addition to whatever seasonal referral incentive, we might have available in any given time at EnLight.Energy, every time a customer refers a friend whose home we upgrade here in America, we make a $100 microloan in that referring customer's behalf. So that small renewable energy loan helps to make a huge positive impact on the family in a developing community and quite frankly by being introduced to the concept and getting a chance to make a difference, in a surprising way, it makes a huge positive impact on the American family as well. ERIC: So this is all fascinating. How does it all come together? What's the long-term vision for EnLight.Energy? JULIO DANIEL: I guess what it comes down to is that whether a family is in the Hamptons or in Africa. We believe that paying for a big company to provide your energy will sooner or later become as archaic as using land lines is becoming today... within the next few decades, every home or building will be a zero energy home. All homes will be constructed or remodeled to conserve energy and equipped to produce their own renewable energy. We want to continue to work to help lead this transition and in that process, we want to provide an opportunity to business builders all over to be able to join us through our smart energy local franchise opportunity so they can lead from the front in what has now been often referred to as the third industrial revolution. ERIC: Why a "local" franchise model? JULIO DANIEL: In an age of growing technology, we believe there is power in one to one relationships. There is something about looking at a person with integrity in the eyes that you just don't get from a computer. So we welcome the latest technology and will help our customers adopt as it becomes available but we will do this by partnering with solid, trustworthy, integrity led business builders that are already part of those communities around America. If someone is there like a neighbor to help you with your insurance, why not your energy. ERIC: Hahaha good stuff! Man-You guys have accomplished quite a bit- you are growing strong across the nation. In my opinion, you are doing it the right way...What drives you? JULIO DANIEL: If I had to boil it down to one statement I would say: providing opportunity. I really do believe that he or she who is willing to work hard and learn in order to take advantage of an opportunity, that's the person that you want to get beside and support. It's why we do micro-loans instead of handouts in third world countries and it's why we developed a franchise model that extends the larger business opportunity to business man and woman willing to do what it takes. At the end of the day, we believe that you can do business ethically, make environmentally conscious decisions and do extremely well financially. And we want to partner with people with similar principles to help them makes their vision a reality. We aren't a solar panel company, thermal paint company, HVAC company, insulation, smart home technology gadget company or even a solar shingle company...those are all just products. As cheesy as it may sound, we are a people company...technology will continue to evolve but as long as we stay in tune with the people side of things we will continue to tap into the human spirit that will make this energy transition possible. ERIC: Well said... and I couldn't think of a better point to end our conversation on for today. Julio Daniel thank you again. A pleasure as always and please come back and keep us up to date with how things are going. JULIO DANIEL: Pleasure is all mine, Eric. Thank you for your time. To listen to the full podcast episode click on the link for the Entrepreneur Podcast Network or PlayerFM. Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:39:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/what-does-insert-solar-lingo-meanhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/what-does-insert-solar-lingo-mean Confused by insolation, inverter, and irradiance? Consider the solar energy glossary your handy guide to all the solar lingo. The U.S. Department of Energy's solar energy glossary contains definitions for technical terms related to solar energy, electricity, and power generation by technologies like photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP). A B C D E F G H I J K L MN O P Q R S T U V W Z III-V cell — A high-efficiency solar cell made from materials including Group III and Group V elements from the periodic table. A absorber — In a photovoltaic device, the material that readily absorbs photons to generate charge carriers (free electrons or holes). AC — See alternating current. acceptor — A dopant material, such as boron, which has fewer outer shell electrons than required in an otherwise balanced crystal structure, providing a hole, which can accept a free electron. activated shelf life — The period of time, at a specified temperature, that a charged battery can be stored before its capacity falls to an unusable level. activation voltage(s) — The voltage(s) at which a charge controller will take action to protect the batteries. adjustable set point — A feature allowing the user to adjust the voltage levels at which a charge controller will become active. acceptor — A dopant material, such as boron, which has fewer outer shell electrons than required in an otherwise balanced crystal structure, providing a hole, which can accept a free electron. AIC — See amperage interrupt capability. air mass (sometimes called air mass ratio) — Equal to the cosine of the zenith angle-that angle from directly overhead to a line intersecting the sun. The air mass is an indication of the length of the path solar radiation travels through the atmosphere. An air mass of 1.0 means the sun is directly overhead and the radiation travels through one atmosphere (thickness). alternating current (AC) — A type of electrical current, the direction of which is reversed at regular intervals or cycles. In the United States, the standard is 120 reversals or 60 cycles per second. Electricity transmission networks use AC because voltage can be controlled with relative ease. ambient temperature — The temperature of the surrounding area. amorphous semiconductor — A non-crystalline semiconductor material that has no long-range order. amorphous silicon — A thin-film, silicon photovoltaic cell having no crystalline structure. Manufactured by depositing layers of doped silicon on a substrate. See also single-crystal silicon an polycrystalline silicon. amperage interrupt capability (AIC) — direct current fuses should be rated with a sufficient AIC to interrupt the highest possible current. ampere (amp) — A unit of electrical current or rate of flow of electrons. One volt across one ohm of resistance causes a current flow of one ampere. ampere-hour (Ah/AH) — A measure of the flow of current (in amperes) over one hour; used to measure battery capacity. ampere hour meter — An instrument that monitors current with time. The indication is the product of current (in amperes) and time (in hours). ancillary services — Services that assist the grid operator in maintaining system balance. These include regulation and the contingency reserves: spinning, non-spinning, and in some regions, supplemental operating reserve. angle of incidence — The angle that a ray of sun makes with a line perpendicular to the surface. For example, a surface that directly faces the sun has a solar angle of incidence of zero, but if the surface is parallel to the sun (for example, sunrise striking a horizontal rooftop), the angle of incidence is 90°. annual solar savings — The annual solar savings of a solar building is the energy savings attributable to a solar feature relative to the energy requirements of a non-solar building. anode — The positive electrode in an electrochemical cell (battery). Also, the earth or ground in a cathodic protection system. Also, the positive terminal of a diode. antireflection coating — A thin coating of a material applied to a solar cell surface that reduces the light reflection and increases light transmission. array — See photovoltaic (PV) array. array current — The electrical current produced by a photovoltaic array when it is exposed to sunlight. array operating voltage — The voltage produced by a photovoltaic array when exposed to sunlight and connected to a load. autonomous system — See stand-alone system. availability — The quality or condition of a photovoltaic system being available to provide power to a load. Usually measured in hours per year. One minus availability equals downtime. azimuth angle — The angle between true south and the point on the horizon directly below the sun. Back to Top B balance of system — Represents all components and costs other than the photovoltaic modules/array. It includes design costs, land, site preparation, system installation, support structures, power conditioning, operation and maintenance costs, indirect storage, and related costs. balancing area — A metered segment of the power system, maintained by a balancing area authority, that ensures the total of all electrical generation equals the total of all system loads. band gap — In a semiconductor, the energy difference between the highest valence band and the lowest conduction band. band gap energy (Eg) — The amount of energy (in electron volts) required to free an outer shell electron from its orbit about the nucleus to a free state, and thus promote it from the valence to the conduction level. barrier energy — The energy given up by an electron in penetrating the cell barrier; a measure of the electrostatic potential of the barrier. base load — The average amount of electric power that a utility must supply in any period. base load generating plants — Typically coal or nuclear generating units that are committed and dispatched at constant or near-constant levels with minimum cycling. They are often the sources of lowest-cost of energy when run at very high capacity factors. battery — Two or more electrochemical cells enclosed in a container and electrically interconnected in an appropriate series/parallel arrangement to provide the required operating voltage and current levels. Under common usage, the term battery also applies to a single cell if it constitutes the entire electrochemical storage system. battery available capacity — The total maximum charge, expressed in ampere-hours, that can be withdrawn from a cell or battery under a specific set of operating conditions including discharge rate, temperature, initial state of charge, age, and cut-off voltage. battery capacity — The maximum total electrical charge, expressed in ampere-hours, which a battery can deliver to a load under a specific set of conditions. battery cell — The simplest operating unit in a storage battery. It consists of one or more positive electrodes or plates, an electrolyte that permits ionic conduction, one or more negative electrodes or plates, separators between plates of opposite polarity, and a container for all the above. battery cycle life — The number of cycles, to a specified depth of discharge, that a cell or battery can undergo before failing to meet its specified capacity or efficiency performance criteria. battery energy capacity — The total energy available, expressed in watt-hours (kilowatt-hours), which can be withdrawn from a fully charged cell or battery. The energy capacity of a given cell varies with temperature, rate, age, and cut-off voltage. This term is more common to system designers than it is to the battery industry where capacity usually refers to ampere-hours. battery energy storage — Energy storage using electrochemical batteries. The three main applications for battery energy storage systems include spinning reserve at generating stations, load leveling at substations, and peak shaving on the customer side of the meter. battery life — The period during which a cell or battery is capable of operating above a specified capacity or efficiency performance level. Life may be measured in cycles and/or years, depending on the type of service for which the cell or battery is intended. BIPV — See building integrated photovoltaics. blocking diode — A semiconductor connected in series with a solar cell or cells and a storage battery to keep the battery from discharging through the cell when there is no output, or low output, from the solar cell. It can be thought of as a one-way valve that allows electrons to flow forwards, but not backwards. boron (B) — The chemical element commonly used as the dopant in photovoltaic device or cell material. boule — A sausage-shaped, synthetic single-crystal mass grown in a special furnace, pulled and turned at a rate necessary to maintain the single-crystal structure during growth. British thermal unit (Btu) — The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit; equal to 252 calories. building integrated photovoltaics — A term for the design and integration of photovoltaic (PV) technology into the building envelope, typically replacing conventional building materials. This integration may be in vertical facades, replacing view glass, spandrel glass, or other facade material; into semitransparent skylight systems; into roofing systems, replacing traditional roofing materials; into shading "eyebrows" over windows; or other building envelope systems. bypass diode — A diode connected across one or more solar cells in a photovoltaic module such that the diode will conduct if the cell(s) become reverse biased. It protects these solar cells from thermal destruction in case of total or partial shading of individual solar cells while other cells are exposed to full light. Back to Top C cadmium (Cd) — A chemical element used in making certain types of solar cells and batteries. cadmium telluride (CdTe) — A polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic material. capacity (C) — See battery capacity. capacity factor — The ratio of the average load on (or power output of) an electricity generating unit or system to the capacity rating of the unit or system over a specified period of time. captive electrolyte battery — A battery having an immobilized electrolyte (gelled or absorbed in a material). cathode — The negative pole or electrode of an electrolytic cell, vacuum tube, etc., where electrons enter (current leaves) the system; the opposite of an anode. cathodic protection — A method of preventing oxidation of the exposed metal in structures by imposing a small electrical voltage between the structure and the ground. Cd — See cadmium. CdTe — See cadmium telluride. cell (battery) — A single unit of an electrochemical device capable of producing direct voltage by converting chemical energy into electrical energy. A battery usually consists of several cells electrically connected together to produce higher voltages. (Sometimes the terms cell and battery are used interchangeably). See also photovoltaic (PV) cell. cell barrier — A very thin region of static electric charge along the interface of the positive and negative layers in a photovoltaic cell. The barrier inhibits the movement of electrons from one layer to the other, so that higher-energy electrons from one side diffuse preferentially through it in one direction, creating a current and thus a voltage across the cell. Also called depletion zone or space charge. cell junction — The area of immediate contact between two layers (positive and negative) of a photovoltaic cell. The junction lies at the center of the cell barrier or depletion zone. charge — The process of adding electrical energy to a battery. charge carrier — A free and mobile conduction electron or hole in a semiconductor. charge controller — A component of a photovoltaic system that controls the flow of current to and from the battery to protect it from over-charge and over-discharge. The charge controller may also indicate the system operational status. charge factor — A number representing the time in hours during which a battery can be charged at a constant current without damage to the battery. Usually expressed in relation to the total battery capacity, i.e., C/5 indicates a charge factor of 5 hours. Related to charge rate. charge rate — The current applied to a cell or battery to restore its available capacity. This rate is commonly normalized by a charge control device with respect to the rated capacity of the cell or battery. chemical vapor deposition (CVD) — A method of depositing thin semiconductor films used to make certain types of photovoltaic devices. With this method, a substrate is exposed to one or more vaporized compounds, one or more of which contain desirable constituents. A chemical reaction is initiated, at or near the substrate surface, to produce the desired material that will condense on the substrate. cleavage of lateral epitaxial films for transfer (CLEFT) — A process for making inexpensive gallium arsenide (GaAs) photovoltaic cells in which a thin film of GaAs is grown atop a thick, single-crystal GaAs (or other suitable material) substrate and then is cleaved from the substrate and incorporated into a cell, allowing the substrate to be reused to grow more thin-film GaAs. cloud enhancement — The increase in solar intensity caused by reflected irradiance from nearby clouds. combined collector — A photovoltaic device or module that provides useful heat energy in addition to electricity. concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) — A solar technology that uses lenses or mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto high-efficiency solar cells. concentrating solar power (CSP) — A solar technology that use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that convert solar energy to heat. This thermal energy is then used to produce electricity with a steam turbine or heat engine driving a generator. concentrator — A photovoltaic module, which includes optical components such as lenses (Fresnel lens) to direct and concentrate sunlight onto a solar cell of smaller area. Most concentrator arrays must directly face or track the sun. They can increase the power flux of sunlight hundreds of times. conduction band (or conduction level) — An energy band in a semiconductor in which electrons can move freely in a solid, producing a net transport of charge. conductor — The material through which electricity is transmitted, such as an electrical wire, or transmission or distribution line. contact resistance — The resistance between metallic contacts and the semiconductor. contingency reserves — Reserve services that are sufficient to cover the unplanned trip (disconnect) of a large generator or transmission line and maintain system balance. Contingency reserves are generally split between spinning and non-spinning reserves, and are often based on the largest single hazard (generator or transmission capacity). conversion efficiency — See photovoltaic (conversion) efficiency. converter — A unit that converts a direct current (dc) voltage to another dc voltage. copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2, or CIS) — A polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic material (sometimes incorporating gallium (CIGS) and/or sulfur). copper zinc tin sulfide/selenide (CZTS) — A polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic material. crystalline silicon — A type of photovoltaic cell made from a slice of single-crystal silicon or polycrystalline silicon. current — See electric current. current at maximum power (Imp) — The current at which maximum power is available from a module. current-voltage (I-V) curve — See I-V curve cutoff voltage — The voltage levels (activation) at which the charge controller disconnects the photovoltaic array from the battery or the load from the battery. cycle — The discharge and subsequent charge of a battery. Czochralski process — A method of growing large size, high quality semiconductor crystal by slowly lifting a seed crystal from a molten bath of the material under careful cooling conditions. Back to Top D dangling bonds — A chemical bond associated with an atom on the surface layer of a crystal. The bond does not join with another atom of the crystal, but extends in the direction of exterior of the surface. days of storage — The number of consecutive days the stand-alone system will meet a defined load without solar energy input. This term is related to system availability. DC — See direct current. DC-to-DC converter — Electronic circuit to convert direct current voltages (e.g., photovoltaic module voltage) into other levels (e.g., load voltage). Can be part of a maximum power point tracker. deep-cycle battery — A battery with large plates that can withstand many discharges to a low state-of-charge. deep discharge — Discharging a battery to 20% or less of its full charge capacity. defect — See light-induced defects demand response — The process of using voluntary load reductions during peak hours. depth of discharge (DOD) — The ampere-hours removed from a fully charged cell or battery, expressed as a percentage of rated capacity. For example, the removal of 25 ampere-hours from a fully charged 100 ampere-hours rated cell results in a 25% depth of discharge. Under certain conditions, such as discharge rates lower than that used to rate the cell, depth of discharge can exceed 100%. dendrite — A slender threadlike spike of pure crystalline material, such as silicon. dendritic web technique — A method for making sheets of polycrystalline silicon in which silicon dendrites are slowly withdrawn from a melt of silicon whereupon a web of silicon forms between the dendrites and solidifies as it rises from the melt and cools. depletion zone — Same as cell barrier. The term derives from the fact that this microscopically thin region is depleted of charge carriers (free electrons and hole). design month — The month having the combination of insolation and load that requires the maximum energy from the photovoltaic array. diffuse insolation — Sunlight received indirectly as a result of scattering due to clouds, fog, haze, dust, or other obstructions in the atmosphere. Opposite of direct insolation. diffuse radiation — Radiation received from the sun after reflection and scattering by the atmosphere and ground. diffusion furnace — Furnace used to make junctions in semiconductors by diffusing dopant atoms into the surface of the material. diffusion length — The mean distance a free electron or hole moves before recombining with another hole or electron. diode — An electronic device that allows current to flow in one direction only. See also blocking diode and bypass diode. direct beam radiation — Radiation received by direct solar rays. Measured by a pyrheliometer with a solar aperture of 5.7° to transcribe the solar disc. direct current (DC) — A type of electricity transmission and distribution by which electricity flows in one direction through the conductor, usually relatively low voltage and high current. To be used for typical 120 volt or 220 volt household appliances, DC must be converted to alternating current, its opposite. direct insolation — Sunlight falling directly upon a collector. Opposite of diffuse insolation. discharge — The withdrawal of electrical energy from a battery. discharge factor — A number equivalent to the time in hours during which a battery is discharged at constant current usually expressed as a percentage of the total battery capacity, i.e., C/5 indicates a discharge factor of 5 hours. Related to discharge rate. discharge rate — The rate, usually expressed in amperes or time, at which electrical current is taken from the battery. disconnect — Switch gear used to connect or disconnect components in a photovoltaic system. dispatching (economic dispatch) — A method by which system operators decide how much output should be scheduled from plants. distributed energy resources (DER) — A variety of small, modular power-generating technologies that can be combined with energy management and storage systems and used to improve the operation of the electricity delivery system, whether or not those technologies are connected to an electricity grid. distributed generation — A popular term for localized or on-site power generation. distributed power — Generic term for any power supply located near the point where the power is used. Opposite of central power. See also stand-alone systems. distributed systems — Systems that are installed at or near the location where the electricity is used, as opposed to central systems that supply electricity to grids. A residential photovoltaic system is a distributed system. donor — In a photovoltaic device, an n-type dopant, such as phosphorus, that puts an additional electron into an energy level very near the conduction band; this electron is easily exited into the conduction band where it increases the electrical conductivity over than of an undoped semiconductor. donor level — The level that donates conduction electrons to the system. dopant — A chemical element (impurity) added in small amounts to an otherwise pure semiconductor material to modify the electrical properties of the material. An n-dopant introduces more electrons. A p-dopant creates electron vacancies (holes). doping — The addition of dopants to a semiconductor. downtime — Time when the photovoltaic system cannot provide power for the load. Usually expressed in hours per year or that percentage. dry cell — A cell (battery) with a captive electrolyte. A primary battery that cannot be recharged. duty cycle — The ratio of active time to total time. Used to describe the operating regime of appliances or loads in photovoltaic systems. duty rating — The amount of time an inverter (power conditioning unit) can produce at full rated power. Back to Top E edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) — A method for making sheets of polycrystalline silicon for photovoltaic devices in which molten silicon is drawn upward by capillary action through a mold. electric circuit — The path followed by electrons from a power source (generator or battery), through an electrical system, and returning to the source. electric current — The flow of electrical energy (electricity) in a conductor, measured in amperes. electrical grid — An integrated system of electricity distribution, usually covering a large area. electricity — Energy resulting from the flow of charge particles, such as electrons or ions. electrochemical cell — A device containing two conducting electrodes, one positive and the other negative, made of dissimilar materials (usually metals) that are immersed in a chemical solution (electrolyte) that transmits positive ions from the negative to the positive electrode and thus forms an electrical charge. One or more cells constitute a battery. electrode — A conductor that is brought in conducting contact with a ground. electrodeposition — Electrolytic process in which a metal is deposited at the cathode from a solution of its ions. electrolyte — A nonmetallic (liquid or solid) conductor that carries current by the movement of ions (instead of electrons) with the liberation of matter at the electrodes of an electrochemical cell. electron — An elementary particle of an atom with a negative electrical charge and a mass of 1/1837 of a proton; electrons surround the positively charged nucleus of an atom and determine the chemical properties of an atom. The movement of electrons in an electrical conductor constitutes an electric current. electron hole pair — The result of light of sufficient energy dislodging an electron from its bond in a crystal, which creates a hole. The free electron (negative charge) and the hole (positive charge) are a pair. These pairs are the constituents of electricity. electron volt (eV) — The amount of kinetic energy gained by an electron when accelerated through an electric potential difference of 1 Volt; equivalent to 1.603 x 10^-19; a unit of energy or work. energy — The capability of doing work; different forms of energy can be converted to other forms, but the total amount of energy remains the same. energy audit — A survey that shows how much energy used in a home, which helps find ways to use less energy. energy contribution potential — Recombination occurring in the emitter region of a photovoltaic cell. energy density — The ratio of available energy per pound; usually used to compare storage batteries. energy imbalance service — A market service that provides for the management of unscheduled deviations in individual generator output or load consumption. energy levels — The energy represented by an electron in the band model of a substance. epitaxial growth — The growth of one crystal on the surface of another crystal. The growth of the deposited crystal is oriented by the lattice structure of the original crystal. equalization — The process of restoring all cells in a battery to an equal state-of-charge. Some battery types may require a complete discharge as a part of the equalization process. equalization charge — The process of mixing the electrolyte in batteries by periodically overcharging the batteries for a short time. equalizing charge — A continuation of normal battery charging, at a voltage level slightly higher than the normal end-of-charge voltage, in order to provide cell equalization within a battery. equinox — The two times of the year when the sun crosses the equator and night and day are of equal length; occurring around March 20 or 21 (spring equinox) and September 22 or 23 (fall equinox). exciton — A quasi-particle created in a semiconductor that is composed of an electron hole pair in a bound state. An exciton can be generated by and converted back into a photon. external quantum efficiency (external QE or EQE) — Quantum efficiency that includes the effect of optical losses, such as transmission through the cell and reflection of light away from the cell. extrinsic semiconductor — The product of doping a pure semiconductor. Back to Top F Fermi level — Energy level at which the probability of finding an electron is one-half. In a metal, the Fermi level is very near the top of the filled levels in the partially filled valence band. In a semiconductor, the Fermi level is in the band gap. fill factor — The ratio of a photovoltaic cell's actual power to its power if both current and voltage were at their maxima. A key characteristic in evaluating cell performance. fixed tilt array — A photovoltaic array set in at a fixed angle with respect to horizontal. flat-plate array — A photovoltaic (PV) array that consists of non-concentrating PV modules. flat-plate module — An arrangement of photovoltaic cells or material mounted on a rigid flat surface with the cells exposed freely to incoming sunlight. flat-plate photovoltaics (PV) — A PV array or module that consists of nonconcentrating elements. Flat-plate arrays and modules use direct and diffuse sunlight, but if the array is fixed in position, some portion of the direct sunlight is lost because of oblique sun-angles in relation to the array. float charge — The voltage required to counteract the self-discharge of the battery at a certain temperature. float life — The number of years that a battery can keep its stated capacity when it is kept at float charge. float service — A battery operation in which the battery is normally connected to an external current source; for instance, a battery charger which supplies the battery load< under normal conditions, while also providing enough energy input to the battery to make up for its internal quiescent losses, thus keeping the battery always up to full power and ready for service. float-zone process — In reference to solar photovoltaic cell manufacture, a method of growing a large-size, high-quality crystal whereby coils heat a polycrystalline ingot placed atop a single-crystal seed. As the coils are slowly raised the molten interface beneath the coils becomes single crystal. frequency — The number of repetitions per unit time of a complete waveform, expressed in Hertz (Hz). frequency regulation — This indicates the variability in the output frequency. Some loads will switch off or not operate properly if frequency variations exceed 1%. Fresnel lens — An optical device that focuses light like a magnifying glass; concentric rings are faced at slightly different angles so that light falling on any ring is focused to the same point. full sun — The amount of power density in sunlight received at the earth's surface at noon on a clear day (about 1,000 Watts/square meter). Back to Top G Ga — See gallium. GaAs — See gallium arsenide. gallium (Ga) — A chemical element, metallic in nature, used in making certain kinds of solar cells and semiconductor devices. gallium arsenide (GaAs) — A crystalline, high-efficiency compound used to make certain types of solar cells and semiconductor material. gassing — The evolution of gas from one or more of the electrodes in the cells of a battery. Gassing commonly results from local action self-discharge or from the electrolysis of water in the electrolyte during charging. gassing current — The portion of charge current that goes into electrolytical production of hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolytic liquid. This current increases with increasing voltage and temperature. gel-type battery — Lead-acid battery in which the electrolyte is composed of a silica gel matrix. gigawatt (GW) — A unit of power equal to 1 billion Watts; 1 million kilowatts, or 1,000 megawatts. grid — See electrical grid. grid-connected system — A solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system in which the PV array acts like a central generating plant, supplying power to the grid. grid-interactive system — Same as grid-connected system. grid lines — Metallic contacts fused to the surface of the solar cell to provide a low resistance path for electrons to flow out to the cell interconnect wires. Back to Top H harmonic content — The number of frequencies in the output waveform in addition to the primary frequency (50 or 60 Hz.). Energy in these harmonic frequencies is lost and may cause excessive heating of the load. heterojunction — A region of electrical contact between two different materials. high voltage disconnect — The voltage at which a charge controller will disconnect the photovoltaic array from the batteries to prevent overcharging. high voltage disconnect hysteresis — The voltage difference between the high voltag disconnect set point and the voltage at which the full photovoltaic array current will be reapplied. hole — The vacancy where an electron would normally exist in a solid; behaves like a positively charged particle. homojunction — The region between an n-layer and a p-layer in a single material, photovoltaic cell. hybrid system — A solar electric or photovoltaic system that includes other sources of electricity generation, such as wind or diesel generators. hydrogenated amorphous silicon — Amorphous silicon with a small amount of incorporated hydrogen. The hydrogen neutralizes dangling bonds in the amorphous silicon, allowing charge carriers to flow more freely. Back to Top I incident light — Light that shines onto the face of a solar cell or module. independent system operator (ISO) — The entity responsible for maintaining system balance, reliability, and electricity market operation. indium oxide — A wide band gap semiconductor that can be heavily doped with tin to make a highly conductive, transparent thin film. Often used as a front contact or one component of a heterojunction solar cell. infrared radiation — Electromagnetic radiation whose wavelengths lie in the range from 0.75 micrometer to 1000 micrometers; invisible long wavelength radiation (heat) capable of producing a thermal or photovoltaic effect, though less effective than visible light. ingot — A casting of material, usually crystalline silicon, from which slices or wafers can be cut for use in a solar cell. input voltage — This is determined by the total power required by the alternating current loads and the voltage of any direct current loads. Generally, the larger the load, the higher the inverter input voltage. This keeps the current at levels where switches and other components are readily available. insolation — The solar power density incident on a surface of stated area and orientation, usually expressed as Watts per square meter or Btu per square foot per hour. See also diffuse insolation and direct insolation. interconnect — A conductor within a module or other means of connection that provides an electrical interconnection between the solar cells. internal quantum efficiency (internal QE or IQE) — A type of quantum efficiency. Refers to the efficiency with which light not transmitted through or reflected away from the cell can generate charge carriers that can generate current. intrinsic layer — A layer of semiconductor material, used in a photovoltaic device, whose properties are essentially those of the pure, undoped, material. intrinsic semiconductor — An undoped semiconductor. inverted metamorphic multijunction (IMM) cell — A photovoltaic cell that is a multijunction device whose layers of semiconductors are grown upside down. This special manufacturing process yields an ultra-light and flexible cell that also converts solar energy with high efficiency. inverter — A device that converts direct current electricity to alternating current either for stand-alone systems or to supply power to an electricity grid. ion — An electrically charged atom or group of atoms that has lost or gained electrons; a loss makes the resulting particle positively charged; a gain makes the particle negatively charged. irradiance — The direct, diffuse, and reflected solar radiation that strikes a surface. Usually expressed in kilowatts per square meter. Irradiance multiplied by time equals insolation. ISPRA guidelines — Guidelines for the assessment of photovoltaic power plants, published by the Joint Research Centre of the Commission of the European Communities, Ispra, Italy. i-type semiconductor — Semiconductor material that is left intrinsic, or undoped so that the concentration of charge carriers is characteristic of the material itself rather than of added impurities. I-V curve — A graphical presentation of the current (I) versus the voltage (V) from a photovoltaic device as the load is increased from the short circuit (no load) condition to the open circuit (maximum voltage) condition. The shape of the curve characterizes cell performance. Back to Top J joule — A metric unit of energy or work; 1 joule per second equals 1 watt or 0.737 foot-pounds; 1 Btu equals 1,055 joules. junction — A region of transition between semiconductor layers, such as a p/n junction, which goes from a region that has a high concentration of acceptors (p-type) to one that has a high concentration of donors (n-type). junction box — A photovoltaic (PV) generator junction box is an enclosure on the module where PV strings are electrically connected and where protection devices can be located, if necessary. junction diode — A semiconductor device with a junction and a built-in potential that passes current better in one direction than the other. All solar cells are junction diodes. Back to Top K kerf — The width of a cut used to create wafers from silicon ingots, often resulting in the loss of semiconductor material. kilowatt (kW) — A standard unit of electrical power equal to 1000 watts, or to the energy consumption at a rate of 1000 joules per second. kilowatt-hour (kWh) — 1,000 thousand watts acting over a period of 1 hour. The kWh is a unit of energy. 1 kWh=3600 kJ. Back to Top L langley (L) — Unit of solar irradiance. One gram calorie per square centimeter. 1 L = 85.93 kWh/m2. lattice — The regular periodic arrangement of atoms or molecules in a crystal of semiconductor material. lead-acid battery — A general category that includes batteries with plates made of pure lead, lead-antimony, or lead-calcium immersed in an acid electrolyte. levelized cost of energy (LCOE) — The cost of energy of a solar system that is based on the system's installed price, its total lifetime cost, and its lifetime electricity production. life — The period during which a system is capable of operating above a specified performance level. life-cycle cost — The estimated cost of owning and operating a photovoltaic system for the period of its useful life. light-induced defects — Defects, such as dangling bonds, induced in an amorphous silicon semiconductor upon initial exposure to light. light trapping — The trapping of light inside a semiconductor material by refracting and reflecting the light at critical angles; trapped light will travel further in the material, greatly increasing the probability of absorption and hence of producing charge carriers. line-commutated inverter — An inverter that is tied to a power grid or line. The commutation of power (conversion from direct current to alternating current) is controlled by the power line, so that, if there is a failure in the power grid, the photovoltaic system cannot feed power into the line. liquid electrolyte battery — A battery containing a liquid solution of acid and water. Distilled water may be added to these batteries to replenish the electrolyte as necessary. Also called a flooded battery because the plates are covered with the electrolyte. load — The demand on an energy producing system; the energy consumption or requirement of a piece or group of equipment. Usually expressed in terms of amperes or watts in reference to electricity. load circuit — The wire, switches, fuses, etc. that connect the load to the power source. load current (A) — The current required by the electrical device. load forecast — Predictions of future demand. For normal operations, daily and weekly forecasts of the hour-by-hour demand are used to help develop generation schedules to ensure that sufficient quantities and types of generation are available when needed. load resistance — The resistance presented by the load. See also resistance. locational marginal price (LMP) — The price of a unit of energy at a particular electrical location at a given time. LMPs are influenced by the nearby generation, load level, and transmission constraints and losses. low voltage cutoff (LVC) — The voltage level at which a charge controller will disconnect the load from the battery. low voltage disconnect — The voltage at which a charge controller will disconnect the load from the batteries to prevent over-discharging. low voltage disconnect hysteresis — The voltage difference between the low voltage disconnect set point and the voltage at which the load will be reconnected. low voltage warning — A warning buzzer or light that indicates the low battery voltage set point has been reached. Back to Top M maintenance-free battery — A sealed battery to which water cannot be added to maintain electrolyte level. majority carrier — Current carriers (either free electrons or holes) that are in excess in a specific layer of a semiconductor material (electrons in the n-layer, holes in the p-layer) of a cell. maximum power point (MPP) — The point on the current-voltage (I-V) curve of a module under illumination, where the product of current and voltage is maximum. For a typical silicon cell, this is at about 0.45 volts. maximum power point tracker (MPPT) — Means of a power conditioning unit that automatically operates the photovoltaic generator at its maximum power point under all conditions. maximum power tracking — Operating a photovoltaic array at the peak power point of the array's I-V curve where maximum power is obtained. Also called peak power tracking. measurement and characterization — A field of research that involves assessing the characteristics of photovoltaic materials and devices. megawatt (MW) — 1,000 kilowatts, or 1 million watts; standard measure of electric power plant generating capacity. megawatt-hour — 1,000 kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours. metrology — The science of measurement. microgroove — A small groove scribed into the surface of a solar cell, which is filled with metal for contacts. micrometer (micron) — One millionth of a meter. minority carrier — A current carrier, either an electron or a hole, that is in the minority in a specific layer of a semiconductor material; the diffusion of minority carriers under the action of the cell junction voltage is the current in a photovoltaic device. minority carrier lifetime — The average time a minority carrier exists before recombination. modified sine wave — A waveform that has at least three states (i.e., positive, off, and negative). Has less harmonic content than a square wave. modularity — The use of multiple inverters connected in parallel to service different loads. module — See photovoltaic (PV) module. module derate factor — A factor that lowers the photovoltaic module current to account for field operating conditions such as dirt accumulation on the module. monolithic — Fabricated as a single structure. movistor — Short for metal oxide varistor. Used to protect electronic circuits from surge currents such as those produced by lightning. multicrystalline — A semiconductor (photovoltaic) material composed of variously oriented, small, individual crystals. Sometimes referred to as polycrystalline or semicrystalline. multijunction device — A high-efficiency photovoltaic device containing two or more cell junctions, each of which is optimized for a particular part of the solar spectrum. multi-stage controller — A charging controller unit that allows different charging currents as the battery nears full state_of_charge. Back to Top N nanometer — One billionth of a meter. National Electrical Code (NEC) — Contains guidelines for all types of electrical installations. The 1984 and later editions of the NEC contain Article 690, "Solar Photovoltaic Systems" which should be followed when installing a PV system. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) — This organization sets standards for some non-electronic products like junction boxes. NEC — See National Electrical Code. NEMA — See National Electrical Manufacturers Association. nickel cadmium battery — A battery containing nickel and cadmium plates and an alkaline electrolyte. nominal voltage — A reference voltage used to describe batteries, modules, or systems (i.e., a 12-volt or 24-volt battery, module, or system). normal operating cell temperature (NOCT) — The estimated temperature of a photovoltaic module when operating under 800 w/m2 irradiance, 20°C ambient temperature and wind speed of 1 meter per second. NOCT is used to estimate the nominal operating temperature of a module in its working environment. n-type — Negative semiconductor material in which there are more electrons than holes; current is carried through it by the flow of electrons. n-type semiconductor — A semiconductor produced by doping an intrinsic semiconductor with an electron-donor impurity (e.g., phosphorus in silicon). n-type silicon — Silicon material that has been doped with a material that has more electrons in its atomic structure than does silicon. Back to Top O ohm — A measure of the electrical resistance of a material equal to the resistance of a circuit in which the potential difference of 1 volt produces a current of 1 ampere. one-axis tracking — A system capable of rotating about one axis. open-circuit voltage (Voc) — The maximum possible voltage across a photovoltaic cell; the voltage across the cell in sunlight when no current is flowing. operating point — The current and voltage that a photovoltaic module or array produces when connected to a load. The operating point is dependent on the load or the batteries connected to the output terminals of the array. orientation — Placement with respect to the cardinal directions, N, S, E, W; azimuth is the measure of orientation from north. outgas — See gassing. overcharge — Forcing current into a fully charged battery. The battery will be damaged if overcharged for a long period. Back to Top P packing factor — The ratio of array area to actual land area or building envelope area for a system; or, the ratio of total solar cell area to the total module area, for a module. panel — See photovoltaic (PV) panel. parallel connection — A way of joining solar cells or photovoltaic modules by connecting positive leads together and negative leads together; such a configuration increases the current, but not the voltage. passivation — A chemical reaction that eliminates the detrimental effect of electrically reactive atoms on a solar cell's surface. peak demand/load — The maximum energy demand or load in a specified time period. peak power current — Amperes produced by a photovoltaic module or array operating at the voltage of the I-V curve that will produce maximum power from the module. peak power point — Operating point of the I-V (current-voltage) curve for a solar cell or photovoltaic module where the product of the current value times the voltage value is a maximum. peak power tracking — See maximum power tracking. peak sun hours — The equivalent number of hours per day when solar irradiance averages 1,000 w/m2. For example, six peak sun hours means that the energy received during total daylight hours equals the energy that would have been received had the irradiance for six hours been 1,000 w/m2. peak watt — A unit used to rate the performance of solar cells, modules, or arrays; the maximum nominal output of a photovoltaic device, in watts (Wp) under standardized test conditions, usually 1,000 watts per square meter of sunlight with other conditions, such as temperature specified. phosphorous (P) — A chemical element used as a dopant in making n-type semiconductor layers. photocurrent — An electric current induced by radiant energy. photoelectric cell — A device for measuring light intensity that works by converting light falling on, or reach it, to electricity, and then measuring the current; used in photometers. photoelectrochemical cell — A type of photovoltaic device in which the electricity induced in the cell is used immediately within the cell to produce a chemical, such as hydrogen, which can then be withdrawn for use. photon — A particle of light that acts as an individual unit of energy. photovoltaic(s) (PV) — Pertaining to the direct conversion of light into electricity. photovoltaic (PV) array — An interconnected system of PV modules that function as a single electricity-producing unit. The modules are assembled as a discrete structure, with common support or mounting. In smaller systems, an array can consist of a single module. photovoltaic (PV) cell — The smallest semiconductor element within a PV module to perform the immediate conversion of light into electrical energy (direct current voltage and current). Also called a solar cell. photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiency — The ratio of the electric power produced by a photovoltaic device to the power of the sunlight incident on the device. photovoltaic (PV) device — A solid-state electrical device that converts light directly into direct current electricity of voltage-current characteristics that are a function of the characteristics of the light source and the materials in and design of the device. Solar photovoltaic devices are made of various semiconductor materials including silicon, cadmium sulfide, cadmium telluride, and gallium arsenide, and in single crystalline, multicrystalline, or amorphous forms. photovoltaic (PV) effect — The phenomenon that occurs when photons, the "particles" in a beam of light, knock electrons loose from the atoms they strike. When this property of light is combined with the properties of semiconductors, electrons flow in one direction across a junction, setting up a voltage. With the addition of circuitry, current will flow and electric power will be available. photovoltaic (PV) generator — The total of all PV strings of a PV power supply system, which are electrically interconnected. photovoltaic (PV) module — The smallest environmentally protected, essentially planar assembly of solar cells and ancillary parts, such as interconnections, terminals, (and protective devices such as diodes) intended to generate direct current power under unconcentrated sunlight. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can either be the top layer (superstrate) or the back layer (substrate). photovoltaic (PV) panel — often used interchangeably with PV module (especially in one-module systems), but more accurately used to refer to a physically connected collection of modules (i.e., a laminate string of modules used to achieve a required voltage and current). photovoltaic (PV) system — A complete set of components for converting sunlight into electricity by the photovoltaic process, including the array and balance of system components. photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) system — A photovoltaic system that, in addition to converting sunlight into electricity, collects the residual heat energy and delivers both heat and electricity in usable form. Also called a total energy system or solar thermal system. physical vapor deposition — A method of depositing thin semiconductor photovoltaic films. With this method, physical processes, such as thermal evaporation or bombardment of ions, are used to deposit elemental semiconductor material on a substrate. P-I-N — A semiconductor photovoltaic (PV) device structure that layers an intrinsic semiconductor between a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor; this structure is most often used with amorphous silicon PV devices. plates — A metal plate, usually lead or lead compound, immersed in the electrolyte in a battery. plug-and-play PV system — A commercial, off-the-shelf photovoltaic system that is fully inclusive with little need for individual customization. The system can be installed without special training and using few tools. The homeowner plugs the system into a PV-ready circuit and an automatic PV discovery process initiates communication between the system and the utility. The system and grid are automatically configured for optimal operation. P/N — A semiconductor photovoltaic device structure in which the junction is formed between a p-type layer and an n-type layer. pocket plate — A plate for a battery in which active materials are held in a perforated metal pocket. point-contact cell — A high efficiency silicon photovoltaic concentrator cell that employs light trapping techniques and point-diffused contacts on the rear surface for current collection. polycrystalline — See multicrystalline. polycrystalline silicon — A material used to make photovoltaic cells, which consist of many crystals unlike single-crystal silicon. polycrystalline thin film — A thin film made of multicrystalline material. power — The amount of electrical energy available for doing work, measured in horsepower, Watts, or Btu per hour. power conditioning — The process of modifying the characteristics of electrical power (for e.g., inverting direct current to alternating current). power conditioning equipment — Electrical equipment, or power electronics, used to convert power from a photovoltaic array into a form suitable for subsequent use. A collective term for inverter, converter, battery charge regulator, and blocking diode. power conversion efficiency — The ratio of output power to input power of the inverter. power density — The ratio of the power available from a battery to its mass (W/kg) or volume (W/l). power factor (PF) — The ratio of actual power being used in a circuit, expressed in watts or kilowatts, to the power that is apparently being drawn from a power source, expressed in volt-amperes or kilovolt-amperes. primary battery — A battery whose initial capacity cannot be restored by charging. projected area — The net south-facing glazing area projected on a vertical plane. p-type semiconductor — A semiconductor in which holes carry the current; produced by doping an intrinsic semiconductor with an electron acceptor impurity (e.g., boron in silicon). pulse-width-modulated (PWM) wave inverter — A type of power inverter that produce a high quality (nearly sinusoidal) voltage, at minimum current harmonics. PV — See photovoltaic(s). pyranometer — An instrument used for measuring global solar irradiance. pyrheliometer — An instrument used for measuring direct beam solar irradiance. Uses an aperture of 5.7° to transcribe the solar disc. Back to Top Q quad — One quadrillion Btu (1,000,000,000,000,000 Btu). qualification test — A procedure applied to a selected set of photovoltaic modules involving the application of defined electrical, mechanical, or thermal stress in a prescribed manner and amount. Test results are subject to a list of defined requirements. quantum efficiency (QE) — The ratio of the number of charge carriers collected by a photovoltaic cell to the number of photons of a given energy shining on the cell. Quantum efficiency relates to the response of a solar cell to the different wavelengths in the spectrum of light shining on the cell. QE is given as a function of either wavelength or energy. Optimally, a solar cell should generate considerable electrical current for wavelengths that are most abundant in sunlight. Back to Top R ramp — A change in generation output. ramp rate — The ability of a generating unit to change its output over some unit of time, often measured in MW/min. Rankine cycle — A thermodynamic cycle used in steam turbines to convert heat energy into work. Concentrating solar power plants often rely on the Rankine cycle. In CSP systems, mirrors focus sunlight on a heat-transfer fluid. This is used to creates steam, which spins a turbine to generate electricity. rated battery capacity — The term used by battery manufacturers to indicate the maximum amount of energy that can be withdrawn from a battery under specified discharge rate and temperature. See also battery capacity. rated module current (A) — The current output of a photovoltaic module measured at standard test conditions of 1,000 w/m2 and 25°C cell temperature. rated power — Rated power of the inverter. However, some units can not produce rated power continuously. See also duty rating. reactive power — The sine of the phase angle between the current and voltage waveforms in an alternating current system. See also power factor. recombination — The action of a free electron falling back into a hole. Recombination processes are either radiative, where the energy of recombination results in the emission of a photon, or nonradiative, where the energy of recombination is given to a second electron which then relaxes back to its original energy by emitting phonons. Recombination can take place in the bulk of the semiconductor, at the surfaces, in the junction region, at defects, or between interfaces. rectifier — A device that converts alternating current to direct current. See also inverter. regulator — Prevents overcharging of batteries by controlling charge cycle-usually adjustable to conform to specific battery needs. remote systems — See stand-alone systems. reserve capacity — The amount of generating capacity a central power system must maintain to meet peak loads. resistance (R) — The property of a conductor, which opposes the flow of an electric current resulting in the generation of heat in the conducting material. The measure of the resistance of a given conductor is the electromotive force needed for a unit current flow. The unit of resistance is ohms. resistive voltage drop — The voltage developed across a cell by the current flow through the resistance of the cell. reverse current protection — Any method of preventing unwanted current flow from the battery to the photovoltaic array (usually at night). See also blocking diode. ribbon (photovoltaic) cells — A type of photovoltaic device made in a continuous process of pulling material from a molten bath of photovoltaic material, such as silicon, to form a thin sheet of material. RMS — See root mean square. root mean square (RMS) — The square root of the average square of the instantaneous values of an ac output. For a sine wave the RMS value is 0.707 times the peak value. The equivalent value of alternating current, I, that will produce the same heating in a conductor with resistance, R, as a dc current of value I. Back to Top S sacrificial anode — A piece of metal buried near a structure that is to be protected from corrosion. The metal of the sacrificial anode is intended to corrode and reduce the corrosion of the protected structure. satellite power system (SPS) — Concept for providing large amounts of electricity for use on the Earth from one or more satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit. A very large array of solar cells on each satellite would provide electricity, which would be converted to microwave energy and beamed to a receiving antenna on the ground. There, it would be reconverted into electricity and distributed the same as any other centrally generated power, through a grid. scheduling — The general practice of ensuring that a generator is committed and available when needed. It also can refer to scheduling of imports or exports of energy into or out of a balancing area. Schottky barrier — A cell barrier established as the interface between a semiconductor, such as silicon, and a sheet of metal. scribing — The cutting of a grid pattern of grooves in a semiconductor material, generally for the purpose of making interconnections. sealed battery — A battery with a captive electrolyte and a resealing vent cap, also called a valve-regulated battery. Electrolyte cannot be added. seasonal depth of discharge — An adjustment factor used in some system sizing procedures which "allows" the battery to be gradually discharged over a 30-90 day period of poor solar insolation. This factor results in a slightly smaller photovoltaic array. secondary battery — A battery that can be recharged. self-discharge — The rate at which a battery, without a load, will lose its charge. semiconductor — Any material that has a limited capacity for conducting an electric current. Certain semiconductors, including silicon, gallium arsenide, copper indium diselenide, and cadmium telluride, are uniquely suited to the photovoltaic conversion process. semicrystalline — See multicrystalline. series connection — A way of joining photovoltaic cells by connecting positive leads to negative leads; such a configuration increases the voltage. series controller — A charge controller that interrupts the charging current by open-circuiting the photovoltaic (PV) array. The control element is in series with the PV array and battery. series regulator — Type of battery charge regulator where the charging current is controlled by a switch connected in series with the photovoltaic module or array. series resistance — Parasitic resistance to current flow in a cell due to mechanisms such as resistance from the bulk of the semiconductor material, metallic contacts, and interconnections. shallow-cycle battery — A battery with small plates that cannot withstand many discharges to a low state-of-charge. shelf life of batteries — The length of time, under specified conditions, that a battery can be stored so that it keeps its guaranteed capacity. short-circuit current (Isc) — The current flowing freely through an external circuit that has no load or resistance; the maximum current possible. shunt controller — A charge controller that redirects or shunts the charging current away from the battery. The controller requires a large heat sink to dissipate the current from the short-circuited photovoltaic array. Most shunt controllers are for smaller systems producing 30 amperes or less. shunt regulator — Type of a battery charge regulator where the charging current is controlled by a switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic (PV) generator. Shorting the PV generator prevents overcharging of the battery. Siemens process — A commercial method of making purified silicon. silicon (Si) — A semi-metallic chemical element that makes an excellent semiconductor material for photovoltaic devices. It crystallizes in face-centered cubic lattice like a diamond. It's commonly found in sand and quartz (as the oxide). sine wave — A waveform corresponding to a single-frequency periodic oscillation that can be mathematically represented as a function of amplitude versus angle in which the value of the curve at any point is equal to the sine of that angle. sine wave inverter — An inverter that produces utility-quality, sine wave power forms. single-crystal material — A material that is composed of a single crystal or a few large crystals. single-crystal silicon — Material with a single crystalline formation. Many photovoltaic cells are made from single-crystal silicon. single-stage controller — A charge controller that redirects all charging current as the battery nears full state-of-charge. smart grid — An intelligent electric power system that regulates the two-way flow of electricity and information between power plants and consumers to control grid activity. soft costs — Non-hardware costs related to PV systems, such as financing, permitting, installation, interconnection, and inspection. solar cell — See photovoltaic (PV) cell. solar constant — The average amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth's upper atmosphere on a surface perpendicular to the sun's rays; equal to 1353 watts per square meter or 492 Btu per square foot. solar cooling — The use of solar thermal energy or solar electricity to power a cooling appliance. Photovoltaic systems can power evaporative coolers ("swamp" coolers), heat-pumps, and air conditioners. solar energy — Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun (solar radiation). The amount that reaches the earth is equal to one billionth of total solar energy generated, or the equivalent of about 420 trillion kilowatt-hours. solar-grade silicon — Intermediate-grade silicon used in the manufacture of solar cells. Less expensive than electronic-grade silicon. solar insolation — See insolation. solar irradiance — See irradiance. solar noon — The time of the day, at a specific location, when the sun reaches its highest, apparent point in the sky. solar panel — See photovoltaic (PV) panel. solar resource — The amount of solar insolation a site receives, usually measured in kWh/m2/day, which is equivalent to the number of peak sun hours. solar spectrum — The total distribution of electromagnetic radiation emanating from the sun. The different regions of the solar spectrum are described by their wavelength range. The visible region extends from about 390 to 780 nanometers (a nanometer is one billionth of one meter). About 99 percent of solar radiation is contained in a wavelength region from 300 nm (ultraviolet) to 3,000 nm (near-infrared). The combined radiation in the wavelength region from 280 nm to 4,000 nm is called the broadband, or total, solar radiation. solar thermal electric systems — Solar energy conversion technologies that convert solar energy to electricity, by heating a working fluid to power a turbine that drives a generator. Examples of these systems include central receiver systems, parabolic dish, and solar trough. space charge — See cell barrier. specific gravity — The ratio of the weight of the solution to the weight of an equal volume of water at a specified temperature. Used as an indicator of battery state-of-charge. spinning reserve — Electric power plant or utility capacity on-line and running at low power in excess of actual load. split-spectrum cell — A compound photovoltaic device in which sunlight is first divided into spectral regions by optical means. Each region is then directed to a different photovoltaic cell optimized for converting that portion of the spectrum into electricity. Such a device achieves significantly greater overall conversion of incident sunlight into electricity. See also mulitjunction device. sputtering — A process used to apply photovoltaic semiconductor material to a substrate by a physical vapor deposition process where high-energy ions are used to bombard elemental sources of semiconductor material, which eject vapors of atoms that are then deposited in thin layers on a substrate. square wave — A waveform that has only two states, (i.e., positive or negative). A square wave contains a large number of harmonics. square wave inverter — A type of inverter that produces square wave output. It consists of a direct current source, four switches, and the load. The switches are power semiconductors that can carry a large current and withstand a high voltage rating. The switches are turned on and off at a correct sequence, at a certain frequency. Staebler-Wronski effect — The tendency of the sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency of amorphous silicon photovoltaic devices to degrade (drop) upon initial exposure to light. stand-alone system — An autonomous or hybrid photovoltaic system not connected to a grid. May or may not have storage, but most stand-alone systems require batteries or some other form of storage. standard reporting conditions (SRC) — A fixed set of conditions (including meteorological) to which the electrical performance data of a photovoltaic module are translated from the set of actual test conditions. standard test conditions (STC) — Conditions under which a module is typically tested in a laboratory. standby current — This is the amount of current (power) used by the inverter when no load is active (lost power). The efficiency of the inverter is lowest when the load demand is low. stand-off mounting — Technique for mounting a photovoltaic array on a sloped roof, which involves mounting the modules a short distance above the pitched roof and tilting them to the optimum angle. starved electrolyte cell — A battery containing little or no free fluid electrolyte. state-of-charge (SOC) — The available capacity remaining in the battery, expressed as a percentage of the rated capacity. storage battery — A device capable of transforming energy from electric to chemical form and vice versa. The reactions are almost completely reversible. During discharge, chemical energy is converted to electric energy and is consumed in an external circuit or apparatus. stratification — A condition that occurs when the acid concentration varies from top to bottom in the battery electrolyte. Periodic, controlled charging at voltages that produce gassing will mix the electrolyte. See also equalization. string — A number of photovoltaic modules or panels interconnected electrically in series to produce the operating voltage required by the load. sub-hourly energy markets — Electricity markets that operate on time steps of 5 minutes. Approximately 60% of all electricity in the United States is currently traded in sub-hourly markets, running at 5-minute intervals so that maximum flexibility can be obtained from the generation fleet. substrate — The physical material upon which a photovoltaic cell is applied. subsystem — Any one of several components in a photovoltaic system (i.e., array, controller, batteries, inverter, load). sulfation — A condition that afflicts unused and discharged batteries; large crystals of lead sulfate grow on the plate, instead of the usual tiny crystals, making the battery extremely difficult to recharge. superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) — SMES technology uses the superconducting characteristics of low-temperature materials to produce intense magnetic fields to store energy. It has been proposed as a storage option to support large-scale use of photovoltaics as a means to smooth out fluctuations in power generation. superconductivity — The abrupt and large increase in electrical conductivity exhibited by some metals as the temperature approaches absolute zero. superstrate — The covering on the sunny side of a photovoltaic (PV) module, providing protection for the PV materials from impact and environmental degradation while allowing maximum transmission of the appropriate wavelengths of the solar spectrum. surge capacity — The maximum power, usually 3-5 times the rated power, that can be provided over a short time. system availability — The percentage of time (usually expressed in hours per year) when a photovoltaic system will be able to fully meet the load demand. system operating voltage — The photovoltaic array output voltage under load. The system operating voltage is dependent on the load or batteries connected to the output terminals. system storage — See battery capacity. Back to Top T tare loss — Loss caused by a charge controller. One minus tare loss, expressed as a percentage, is equal to the controller efficiency. temperature compensation — A circuit that adjusts the charge controller activation points depending on battery temperature. This feature is recommended if the battery temperature is expected to vary more than ±5°C from ambient temperature. temperature factors — It is common for three elements in photovoltaic system sizing to have distinct temperature corrections: a factor used to decrease battery capacity at cold temperatures; a factor used to decrease PV module voltage at high temperatures; and a factor used to decrease the current carrying capability of wire at high temperatures. thermophotovoltaic cell (TPV) — A device where sunlight concentrated onto a absorber heats it to a high temperature, and the thermal radiation emitted by the absorber is used as the energy source for a photovoltaic cell that is designed to maximize conversion efficiency at the wavelength of the thermal radiation. thick-crystalline materials — Semiconductor material, typically measuring from 200-400 microns thick, that is cut from ingots or ribbons. thin film — A layer of semiconductor material, such as copper indium diselenide or gallium arsenide, a few microns or less in thickness, used to make photovoltaic cells. thin film photovoltaic module — A photovoltaic module constructed with sequential layers of thin film semiconductor materials. See also amorphous silicon. tilt angle — The angle at which a photovoltaic array is set to face the sun relative to a horizontal position. The tilt angle can be set or adjusted to maximize seasonal or annual energy collection. tin oxide — A wide band-gap semiconductor similar to indium oxide; used in heterojunction solar cells or to make a transparent conductive film, called NESA glass when deposited on glass. total AC load demand — The sum of the alternating current loads. This value is important when selecting an inverter. total harmonic distortion — The measure of closeness in shape between a waveform and it's fundamental component. total internal reflection — The trapping of light by refraction and reflection at critical angles inside a semiconductor device so that it cannot escape the device and must be eventually absorbed by the semiconductor. tracking array — A photovoltaic (PV) array that follows the path of the sun to maximize the solar radiation incident on the PV surface. The two most common orientations are (1) one axis where the array tracks the sun east to west and (2) two-axis tracking where the array points directly at the sun at all times. Tracking arrays use both the direct and diffuse sunlight. Two-axis tracking arrays capture the maximum possible daily energy. transformer — An electromagnetic device that changes the voltage of alternating current electricity. transparent conducting oxide (TCO) — A doped metal oxide used to coat and improve the performance of optoelectronic devices such as photovoltaics and flat panel displays. Most TCO films are fabricated with polycrystalline or amorphous microstructures and are deposited on glass. The current industry-standard TCO is indium tin oxide. Indium is relatively rare and expensive, so research is ongoing to develop improved TCOs based on alternative materials. tray cable (TC) - may be used for interconnecting balance-of-systems. trickle charge — A charge at a low rate, balancing through self-discharge losses, to maintain a tunneling — Quantum mechanical concept whereby an electron is found on the opposite side of an insulating barrier without having passed through or around the barrier. cell or battery in a fully charged condition. two-axis tracking — A photovoltaic array tracking system capable of rotating independently about two axes (e.g., vertical and horizontal). Back to Top U ultraviolet — Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of 4 to 400 nanometers. underground feeder (UF) — May be used for photovoltaic array wiring if sunlight resistant coating is specified; can be used for interconnecting balance-of-system components but not recommended for use within battery enclosures. underground service entrance (USE) — May be used within battery enclosures and for interconnecting balance-of-systems. uninterruptible power supply (UPS) — The designation of a power supply providing continuous uninterruptible service. The UPS will contain batteries. utility-interactive inverter — An inverter that can function only when tied to the utility grid, and uses the prevailing line-voltage frequency on the utility line as a control parameter to ensure that the photovoltaic system's output is fully synchronized with the utility power. Back to Top V vacuum evaporation - The deposition of thin films of semiconductor material by the evaporation of elemental sources in a vacuum. vacuum zero — The energy of an electron at rest in empty space; used as a reference level in energy band diagrams. valence band — The highest energy band in a semiconductor that can be filled with electrons. valence level energy/valence state — Energy content of an electron in orbit about an atomic nucleus. Also called bound state. varistor — A voltage-dependent variable resistor. Normally used to protect sensitive equipment from power spikes or lightning strikes by shunting the energy to ground. vented cell — A battery designed with a vent mechanism to expel gases generated during charging. vertical multijunction (VMJ) cell — A compound cell made of different semiconductor materials in layers, one above the other. Sunlight entering the top passes through successive cell barriers, each of which converts a separate portion of the spectrum into electricity, thus achieving greater total conversion efficiency of the incident light. Also called a multiple junction cell. See also multijunction device and split-spectrum cell. volt (V) — A unit of electrical force equal to that amount of electromotive force that will cause a steady current of one ampere to flow through a resistance of one ohm. voltage — The amount of electromotive force, measured in volts, that exists between two points. voltage at maximum power (Vmp) — The voltage at which maximum power is available from a photovoltaic module. voltage protection — Many inverters have sensing circuits that will disconnect the unit from the battery if input voltage limits are exceeded. voltage regulation — This indicates the variability in the output voltage. Some loads will not tolerate voltage variations greater than a few percent. Back to Top W wafer — A thin sheet of semiconductor (photovoltaic material) made by cutting it from a single crystal or ingot. watt — The rate of energy transfer equivalent to one ampere under an electrical pressure of one volt. One watt equals 1/746 horsepower, or one joule per second. It is the product of voltage and current (amperage). waveform — The shape of the phase power at a certain frequency and amplitude. wet shelf life — The period of time that a charged battery, when filled with electrolyte, can remain unused before dropping below a specified level of performance. window — A wide band gap material chosen for its transparency to light. Generally used as the top layer of a photovoltaic device, the window allows almost all of the light to reach the semiconductor layers beneath. wire types — See Article 300 of National Electric Code for more information. work function — The energy difference between the Fermi level and vacuum zero. The minimum amount of energy it takes to remove an electron from a substance into the vacuum. Back to Top Z zenith angle — the angle between the direction of interest (of the sun, for example) and the zenith (directly overhead). Back to Top Learn how solar works with SETO's solar energy basics pages. You can also learn more about SETO's research areas and explore our solar information resources. Tue, 06 Sep 2022 11:35:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/gainesville-solar-walk-gainesville-florida--a-trek-through-the-solar-system-here-on-earthhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/gainesville-solar-walk-gainesville-florida--a-trek-through-the-solar-system-here-on-earth THE GAINESVILLE SOLAR WALK IS a four-billion-to-one scale model of the solar system. The entire display spans one mile. Each pillar has info and artifacts about the celestial body it features. The installation was created in 2002 as a joint project of the City of Gainesville, the Alachua Astronomy Club, artist Elizabeth Indianos, as well as graphic artist Saydi Kaufman. The project cost around $30,000. Each pillar represents a different planet, Pluto is also included. The planet pillars also feature quotes, stones, and other repurposed objects. Two comets are also present along the walk. Enhancements are still being discussed, including additional seating, nighttime lighting, an asteroid rock garden, landscaping, and more. The installation itself runs along the road. There is a sidewalk the whole way. There is a park nearby (Westside Park - 3100-3346 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32605) where people can park their vehicles and walk over to the installation. Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:03:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/swiss-on-track-to-be-the-first-airline-to-use-solar-fuelhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/swiss-on-track-to-be-the-first-airline-to-use-solar-fuel Swiss are to become the first airline in the world to power planes by “liquid sunlight.” The airline, which is owned by Lufthansa Group, has struck a deal with Synhelion, a company that uses solar energy to convert CO2 into a synthetic fuel called syngas. Swiss-based Synhelion, which is a spinoff from the Swiss Institute of Technology, has mastered a way of manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from renewable energy sources. And the move, the airline says, is the first step towards making the aviation industry more sustainable through carbon-neutral, fossil-free flying. But what is syngas? Syngas is a liquid fuel with the same properties as fossil fuels, but it is produced artificially. The genius of it is that they contain less impurities than fossil fuels which means that they emit less noxious gases when they burn. And its manufacturers say it can be used as a replacement fuel in almost all types of transportation, including ships, trucks, planes and cars. And crucially, it produces only as much carbon dioxide as went into manufacturing it, helping to cut aviation emissions. How is it made? In short, it is a mixture of unimaginably high heat, steam and carbon dioxide. Synhelion is currently building a vast “mirror field” in Germany. Those mirrors reflect the sun’s rays into a receiver that converts the light into heat. That heat is then transmitted into a thermochemical reactor that heats steam and CO2 to around 1,500C until a new liquid forms. That liquid is syngas. For a more detailed explanation of the process, check out Synhelion’s website. When will Swiss actually fly on syngas? Synhelion is set to build its first facility for the industrial production of syngas in Germany’s Julich this year, according to the company’s statement. And the first batch of solar kerosene will be ready for use in 2023. “Our team-up with Synhelion is founded on our shared vision to make carbon-neutral flying in regular flight operations possible through the use of solar fuel,” said Swiss CEO Dieter Vranckx. “Our involvement with Synhelion is a key element in our long-term sustainability strategy.” Philipp Furler, Synhelion’s co-founder and CEO, added: “We believe in a globalized world connected by climate-friendly mobility. Our next-generation carbon-neutral solar kerosene is an economically and ecologically viable substitute for fossil fuels.” Featured image via Airbus. *This article was originally written by Matt Blake for thepointsguy.com Sat, 12 Mar 2022 14:02:00 -0700http://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/stunning-aerial-photographs-show-the-impressive-solar-infrastructures-that-will-soon-power-the-whole-worldhttp://www.enlight.energy/blog/post/stunning-aerial-photographs-show-the-impressive-solar-infrastructures-that-will-soon-power-the-whole-world The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, near Ivanpah Dry Lake, California, generates enough electricity to serve more than 140,000 homes in the state during the peak hours of the day while reducing 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. What will the world of the future look like? It's a question that's increasingly inescapable in the era of global warming, or, as scientists increasingly call it, the Anthropocene: a world shaped by humans, the machines we use, and the pollution those emit—a world of anthropogenic change. The war in Ukraine is exposing in harsh terms the world's continued heavy reliance on old-school fossil fuels, as gas prices skyrocket with the U.S. banning the imports of Russian oil. What would it actually look like if alternative energy sources were truly embraced on a global scale? This is the question at the heart of German aerial photographer and artist Tom Hegen’s latest body of work, The Solar Power Series, which explores what the earth’s surface could look more and more like if we solely use the sun’s power to satisfy our hunger for energy. It's staggering to think about how much energy is effectively wasted from lack of proper utilization of solar power. The amount of power from the sun that strikes the earth in a single hour is more than the entire world consumes in a year, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.The landscapes that Hegen captures could become the norm, if we humans as a collective group make it a priority to alter our current interaction with the world. Hegen describes the panels at Ivanpah “like a mecca of mirrors, a concert crowd, pointing their smartphone lights to their idol. The chaos in the mirrors resembles quite an individuality of robotic machines.” Tom Hegen This edited Q&A has been condensed for space and clarity. What story do you hope to tell the world in your Solar Power Series?Hegen: A lot of my work is based on the topic of the Anthropocene. It’s the proposed current era in which humans have become the most significant factor influencing the earth's geological, ecological, and atmospheric processes. Climate change is only one of the real-world problems caused by human activities. I want to visualize our interaction with nature. I document places we all connect to since we all benefit from the resources extracted, gained, or processed at those particular places. My latest body of work is around energy transformation from burning fossil energies to more sustainable solutions. Aerial view of Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in California early in the morning. Tom Hegen Where do you take us in your latest project? Among the locations featured in The Solar Power Series are Ivanpah (California), Crescent Dune (Nevada), Les Mées (France), Planta Solar (near Seville, Spain), and Gemasolar (also near Seville). Most of these solar power production sites are kind of pilot projects and first of their kind constructed within the past 15 years. Those round, center-oriented constructions are solar thermal power plants. Thousands of mirrors called heliostats concentrate the sun’s energy to a tower that heats molten salt. The salt can reach very high temperatures and hold the heat even after the sun has gone down. The heat is used to boil water and drive a steam turbine that generates electricity in large quantities.And this could be a very fruitful solution. Water, wind, and sun provide a tremendous amount of energy. The question is, how do we transform the energy into power that we can make use of, bringing it to places where we need it and having it available whenever we need it. Aerial view of Stateline Solar Farm in San Bernadino County, California. Tom Hegen How does aerial photography change the way you view the world from this bird’s-eye view? Aerial photography, to me, is like data visualization for scientists. The elevated perspective has such a remarkable ability to show the scale and context of a landscape. I also enjoy the abstraction and aestheticization that comes with changing the perspective. There is no time for me to experience the landscape and see all its details [when up in the air]. When I come back from production and look at the images on a large monitor, I have a second encounter with the landscape and can explore all the details in the scenery.[Aerial photography] shows dimensions and reveals insights we wouldn’t be able to see from the ground. None of the places I photograph have been intentionally designed to be viewed from the air and make visual sense. This demonstrates that we are all artists, creating on the canvas of the earth’s surface. In this context, I see myself as a curator looking at places that we have drastically altered. Siemens Energy’s Les Mées solar farm in France is one of the largest of its kind in Europe, with panels built into the rolling hills of the southern European Alps. Tom Hegen Where do you see solar power going in the upcoming decade? Will we fall short in sustaining our world, or will any action help? To keep the planet a place worth living [on], we need to protect its resources and the state of nature. For the transformation from extracting and burning fossil fuels and polluting our air to more sustainable options, solar energy has the power to play a significant role. However, I assume it can’t be the only option. We need to find multiple ways of providing more clean energy, and yes, every step toward it helps. Aerial view of the Crescent Dunes, a Nevada solar energy plant that went bust after receiving a $737 million federal loan guarantee. Tom Hegen For more of Hegen’s work, check out his website and Instagram. *This article was originally written by Alex Scimecca and Nick Lichtenberg for Fortune.com Fri, 11 Mar 2022 20:27:00 -0700