Ever wonder how sunshine actually gets turned into solar electricity? One of the most common methods is through the use of photovoltaic (PV) cells. When sunlight strikes these cells, it excites their electrons to generate an electrical charge which then travels along thin wires to a circuit.

In a typical solar energy system, individual PV cells get wired together into modules that then get connected to form a large solar array. This array gets linked to an inverter that converts DC into AC power. This clean energy is used on-site and any surplus is fed back into the grid.

Check out the following online resources to find out more about solar power and the technology behind it.

US Department of Energy: Clean Energy Technology

Sandia National Laboratory Photovoltaic Solar Research and Development

BOS
Balance of System. The parts of the PV system other than the array: switches, controls, meters, power-conditioning equipment, supporting structure for the array and storage components.

Capacity Factor
The ratio of the actual energy produced by a solar energy system in a given period, to the hypothetical maximum possible.

Crystalline Modules
Solar cells made from a single unbroken crystal are called monocrystalline, meaning “one crystal.” Multicrystalline solar cells are made of more than one crystal. The crystals in these modules are smaller, making them quicker and easier to grow, thus lowering their manufacturing costs.

Inverter
Device that converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) electricity.

kW
Kilowatt. 1,000 Watts.

kWh
Kilowatt-hour. 1,000 Watt-hours. Unit of energy (power expressed in kW multiplied by time expressed in hours).

MW
Megawatt. 1,000,000 Watts

PPA
Power Purchase Agreement. Contract fixing the terms of an electrical energy service agreement between an Energy Service Provider and its customer.

PV
Photovoltaic. The process that produces electricity from sunlight. "Photo" refers to light and "voltaic" to voltage.

W
Watt. Measurement of electrical power.

Solar Array
A mechanically integrated assembly of modules and panels together with support structure to form a DC power-producing unit.

Solar Module
An individual assembly of PV cells that produces power when exposed to sunlight.

Solar Power Plant
Set of interconnected elements such as PV modules, inverters, storage batteries and all installation and control components.

Thin Film Modules
A solar cell in which a thin film of photo-reactive material is deposited onto a thin, flexible metal or plastic substrate; advantages include flexibility and light weight.