nonrenewable fuels

Fuels that cannot be easily made or renewed. We can use up nonrenewable fuels. Oil, natural gas, and coal are nonrenewable fuels.

A reference voltage used to describe batteries, modules, or systems (ie. a 12-, 24- , or 48-volt battery, module or system).

The reference cell (module) operating temperature presented on manufacturer’s literature. Generally the NOCT is referenced at 25°C, 77°F.

An abbreviation for the National Electrical Code ® which contains safety guidelines and required practices for all types of electrical installations. Article 690 pertains to solar photovoltaic systems.

A semiconductor produced by doping an intrinsic semiconductor with an electron-donor impurity, for example phosphorous in silicon.

Material that is solidified at such as rate that many small crystals (crystallites) form. The atoms within a single crystallite are symmetrically arranged, whereas crystallites are jumbled together. These numerous grain boundaries reduce the device efficiency. A material composed of variously oriented, small individual crystals. (Sometimes referred to as polycrystalline or semicrystalline).

See `Photovoltaic Module.’

One million watts; 1000 kilowatts.

Means of a power conditioning unit that automatically operates the PV generator at its MPP under all conditions.

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 V.