| Absorber |
The Absorber is the blackened surface in a solar thermal Collector that converts the sun's energy into heat energy. |
| Amp |
An Amp (ampere) describes a unit of electrical current or rate of flow of electrons. Multiplying Amps by Voltage results in Watts. |
| Array |
An Array consists of photovoltaic panels/modules connected together to generate electricity. |
| Backup Hot Water |
During periods of cloudy days or in the event of excess demand, a backup heating element, located in the hot water tank, provides the hot water required. |
| Balance of System (BOS) |
BOS is a common reference to any parts or equipment, in addition to the PV modules, necessary to complete the solar installation (inverter, mounting hardware, wiring, etc.). |
| Battery Back-up |
A bank of batteries used to provide back up power in the event of an electric power outage. |
| British Thermal Unit (BTU) |
A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is a measurement of solar collector output and is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. |
| Buy All/Sell All |
As its name implies, this option allows customers to sell all of their electricity generated by solar power while buying all of their needed electricity directly from the utility. The customer benefits by selling electricity at a higher rate than what is paid to the utility to buy it. |
| Closed Loop Pressurized System |
This type of Domestic Hot Water system uses a pressurized heat transfer fluid made up of a mixture of non-toxic propylene glycol and water to protect against freezing. |
| Collector |
A Collector is a device used in solar thermal systems (Domestic Hot Water and Radiant Heating, for example) for collecting and converting solar radiation into heat. Thermal Collector efficiency can be broadly defined as the fraction of available solar energy converted into useful heat during a known period of time. |
| Combined System |
Combined System (sometimes also referred to as a Combination System or a Hybrid System) refers to Photovoltaic and Domestic Hot Water solar systems installed at the same time, in order to maximize the advantages of each. This is the most cost effective way to meet your energy requirements and provides the best overall return on investment (ROI). |
| Customer Proposal |
Customer Proposal is produced after an in depth discussion with the client to determine what solar solution best fits their needs using data gathered from the Site Analysis. |
| DHW |
Domestic Hot Water, also commonly referred to as solar thermal or solar water heating systems. DHW solar systems consist of a roof mounted solar collector, pump station, controller and hot water storage tank. When the sun is shining, a freeze protected fluid cycles from the roof to the storage tank transferring the sun's energy into hot water. In the event of cloudy days or excess demand, the electric element in the hot water heater acts as a backup. |
| Drain-Back System |
This type of Domestic Hot Water system works by circulating fluid until the pre-determined temperature is reached. When the temperature limit is met, the pump shuts off and the fluid drains back into a reservoir tank that stores the unpressurized fluid. This is accomplished by sloping the collectors sufficiently to allow the fluid to drain back. Freeze protection is achieved by not having any fluid in the collectors when the system is not operating. |
| Evacuated Tube Collector |
An Evacuated Tube Collector is type of solar collector used for producing Domestic Hot Water. Using a vacuum created between a double walled glass tube, Evacuated Tube Collectors provide extremely efficient thermal insulation and performance. Evacuated Tube Collectors are typically made up of 20 or 30 tubes grouped together. |
| Flat Plate Collector |
A Flat Plate Collector is a rectangular, insulated metal box containing an Absorber plate and copper coil for trapping the sun's energy and using it to heat a circulating fluid for the production of hot water. |
| Grid-tied |
A PV system wired directly into the electric power transmission network (the grid). This is the typical solar electric system, which allows the customer to select between the options of Buy All/Sell All or Net Metering, for their electricity production. |
| Inverter |
A device used in converting DC power from the solar panels to AC power used by the building. It is usually found on a ground level exterior wall in close proximity to the electric panel. |
| Investment Tax Credit (ITC) |
Investment Tax Credits have enormous influence on reducing the costs associated with purchasing and installing solar systems. Please see the www.dsireusa.org for detailed information regarding Investment Tax Credits at the State and the Federal levels. |
| Latitude |
Latitude is the angle to the sun that yields the best year round solar performance. For residents in the Wilmington, NC area it is approximately 34 degrees or equivalent to a 8:12 roof pitch. |
| Microinvertor |
A device converting DC power to AC power mounted directly under each solar panel. These devices offer an efficient method of electricity transmission and reduce the impact from localized shading on the overall solar system. |
| NC Green Power |
An organization offering financial incentives for generators of electricity from renewable sources. Under a contract with NC Green Power (currently 5 years), the customer is paid a premium for electricity generated (currently $.15 kWh). Please visit www.ncgreenpower.org for more information. |
| Net Metering |
An option allowing the utility customer to subtract the value of solar electricity generated from electricity consumed. In this scenario, the electricity generated is credited against the electricity used and the customer is charged for the 'Net' amount. In the event the solar system generates more electricity than is being used, it is pushed back onto the electric grid and used for future credit. |
| PV |
PV stands for photovoltaic and is used in reference to a solar module/panel converting solar energy into electricity. There are various manufacturers of these panels and it is important to carefully consider the needs of the customer and the solar system location before deciding which one is best suited for the job. |
| Renewable Energy |
Renewable Energy is considered to be regenerative or virtually inexhaustible. Typically refers to solar, biomass, geothermal, wind, tidal, wave, and hydro power sources. |
| Site Analysis |
The Site Analysis is a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed customer solar system location that takes into account available roof space, orientation and sun exposure. From this data a Solar Access & Shade Report is generated. This data is used in preparing the Customer Proposal. |
| Solar Access & Shade Report |
The Solar Access & Shade Report (part of the Site Analysis) is performed by the solar installer and provides a detailed analysis of the sun's availability and shade impact during the course of the year on the proposed solar installation site. Data gathered from this report is crucial for locating the optimal solar system position and for determining the most efficient solar system size. |
| Solar Panel |
A Solar Panel, also referred to as a solar module, is a group of silicon cells converting solar radiation into useful electricity. Typically mounted on the roof, solar panels come in one of four varieties:
- Single Crystal (10 - 19% efficiency): The most efficient and costly to produce with the longest life expectancy.
- Poly or Multicrystalline (9 - 14% efficiency): Less expensive to produce and most commonly used.
- Amorphous, usually referred to as Thin Film (5 - 7% efficiency): Relatively inexpensive to produce but requires a much larger installation area.
- String Ribbon (7 - 8% efficiency): Like Amorphous, inexpensive to manufacture but requiring much more surface area to produce the equivalent power of a Single Crystal or Multicrystalline panel.
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| Up Front Cost |
The Up Front Cost is the initial cost paid for a solar system before applying State & Federal Investment Tax Credits. |
| Voltage |
Voltage is a measure of force in relation to the flow of electrons. Multiplied by Amps gives you Watts, the unit used to measure power. |
| Watt |
A watt is a unit of power equal to Amps multiplied by Voltage. It is the unit used to rate the electrical generating capacity of individual Solar Panels/Modules. |
