Alternating Current (AC)

The standard electrical current used in the electrical grid, homes, and industrial devices. Solar panels produce Direct Current (DC), which is converted into Alternating Current using inverters to make it suitable for use.

Ampere (A)

The unit of measurement for electrical current intensity.

Anti-Reflective Coating

A special coating applied to the glass surface of solar panels that reduces the reflection of sunlight, allowing more light to reach the cells (thereby increasing efficiency).

Battery Storage System

Systems that store surplus energy generated by solar systems to be used during hours without sunlight or during power outages.

Bifacial Panel

An advanced solar panel type that can generate electricity not only from its front surface but also from light reflected onto its rear surface, increasing total energy yield by 5% to 30%.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

A detailed document listing all raw materials and components required to manufacture a solar panel.

Busbar

Thin silver or copper wires located on solar cells that collect and conduct the generated electrical current (e.g., terms like 9BB, 11BB, 16BB indicate the number of busbars on a cell).

Bypass Diode

A protective component that allows current to bypass a faulty, shaded, or dirty cell, preventing overall panel power loss.

Charge Controller

A device used in off-grid systems that regulates the voltage and current coming from solar panels to the batteries, preventing overcharging or deep discharge.

Deep Cycle

The ability of a battery to regularly discharge a large portion of its capacity and be recharged. Deep Cycle batteries are commonly used in solar energy storage systems.

Degradation

The natural decline in a solar panel's energy generation capacity over time (years). For high-quality panels, the annual degradation rate is typically below 0.5%.

Direct Current (DC)

The type of electric current generated by solar panels where electrons flow in a single direction.

Electrical Grid

The local or national transmission and distribution network that delivers electricity from power plants to end consumers.

Electroluminescence (EL) Test

A critical quality control method that detects micro-cracks and electrical defects invisible to the naked eye, ensuring panel quality.

EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction)

A turnkey service model where a single contractor undertakes the engineering, procurement, and construction processes of a Solar Power Plant.

Flash Test

A test where artificial sunlight is applied to the solar panel for a brief moment to measure its actual power (Watt) and performance. It verifies whether the panel delivers its rated power printed on the label.

Glass-to-Glass / Dual Glass Panel

Panels that use durable glass on the rear side instead of a standard polymer backsheet. They offer long-term resistance against environmental factors such as moisture, salt, and ammonia.

Ground-Mounted PV System

Solar power plants installed directly on open land instead of rooftops, usually with high capacities (in Megawatt levels).

Half-Cut Cell Technology

A technology where standard solar cells are cut in half using lasers. It increases panel efficiency by reducing electrical resistance and minimizes shading losses.

Hybrid Inverter

Inverters that combine the features of both grid-tied (On-Grid) and battery-backed off-grid (Off-Grid) systems into a single device.

Ingress Protection (IP) Rating

An international standard indicating the degree of resistance of solar panel junction boxes and inverters against dust and water (e.g., IP65 or IP68 for outdoor use).

Inverter

A device that converts Direct Current (DC) produced by solar panels into usable Alternating Current (AC) for homes, factories, or the grid.

Junction Box

A protective safety box located on the back of the solar panel that collects the electrical current coming from the cells and houses the output cables to transfer it to the external system.

Kilowatt (kW)

A unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 Watts. It is used to express installed capacity in solar projects (e.g., 10 kW Rooftop System).

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

The amount of energy produced or consumed at a rate of 1,000 Watts over one hour. It is the primary unit of measurement for electricity bills and generation data.

Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)

The average cost per unit of energy generated by a solar power plant over its lifespan. It is one of the key metrics used to assess the financial viability of an investment.

Light-Induced Degradation (LID)

The initial minor performance loss a solar panel experiences within the first few hours or days of exposure to sunlight.

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)

An algorithmic feature in inverters or charge controllers that continuously calculates the maximum power that can be extracted from solar panels under current temperature and irradiance conditions.

Megawatt (MW)

A unit of power equal to 1,000 Kilowatts (or 1 million Watts), used to state the capacity of large-scale commercial, industrial, and ground-mounted solar plants.

N-Type Cell

A new-generation cell technology where negative charge carriers (electrons) are predominant, offering higher efficiency and greater resistance to Light-Induced Degradation (LID).

Net Metering

A system for grid-connected projects where surplus electricity produced by solar panels is fed into the grid and financially offset against electricity drawn from the grid on a monthly basis.

Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT)

A metric showing the cell temperature (°C) reached by a solar panel under conditions mimicking real-world field operations.

Off-Grid System

A self-sufficient power model used in locations without access to the main electrical grid, where generated energy is stored in batteries.

On-Grid System

A solar energy system integrated with the main power grid. Surplus generated energy can be sold or fed back to the grid.

P-Type Cell

A long-standing industry-standard cell technology where positive charge carriers (holes) are predominant.

Panel Efficiency

The percentage value representing how effectively a solar panel converts sunlight falling on its surface area into usable electricity.

Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC)

A technology that adds a reflective layer to the rear side of the solar cell, bouncing light that passed through back into the cell for a second chance at energy conversion, thereby raising efficiency.

Photovoltaics (PV)

The technology of converting light (photo) directly into electricity (voltaic). Solar panels operate based on photovoltaic principles.

Potential-Induced Degradation (PID)

An unwanted degradation in solar cell performance over time caused by voltage leakages in the system. "PID-Free" panels undergo special testing to prevent this issue.

Power Optimizer

A device installed behind individual solar panels to perform MPPT on a panel-by-panel basis, preventing overall system performance drops during partial shading.

Rooftop PV System

Solar energy systems installed on the roofs of factories, warehouses, commercial properties, or residences. They save space and aim to meet energy demands on-site through local generation.

Self-Consumption

The immediate consumption of generated solar power directly within the facility, business, or household where it is produced, without feeding it into the grid.

Solar Cell

The smallest basic building block of a solar panel that converts sunlight into electricity.

Solar Irradiance

The amount of solar energy falling on a specific area, usually measured in Watts per square meter (W/m²), determining the system's potential yield.

Standard Test Conditions (STC)

Laboratory standards used to measure solar panel performance (1000 W/m² irradiance, 25°C cell temperature, and AM 1.5 air mass).

String

A group of solar panels connected in series to achieve the desired system voltage and power output.

String Inverter

The most common inverter type used in commercial and industrial systems, converting energy from multiple solar panels connected in series (a string) at a central point.

Tilt Angle

The vertical angle at which solar panels are positioned relative to the horizontal plane (ground or roof).

Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon)

A next-generation N-type cell structure that uses a tunnel oxide and polysilicon layer on the rear side to minimize carrier losses, offering higher efficiency and lower degradation compared to traditional PERC technology.

TÜV Certificate

An approval document from an independent testing organization proving that solar panels comply with international safety, quality, and durability standards.

Volt (V)

The unit of measurement for electrical potential difference (voltage), analogous to water pressure pushing water through a pipe.

Watt (W)

The unit of measurement for electrical power, equal to Voltage (Volts) multiplied by Current (Amperes).

Watt Peak (Wp)

The maximum theoretical power capacity a solar panel can produce under Standard Test Conditions (STC).