Glossary

A type of solar thermal collector which is straight in one dimension and curved as a parabola in the other two, lined with a polished metal mirror. The sunlight which enters the mirror parallel to its plane of symmetry is focused along the focal line, where objects are positioned which…

A type of solar furnace which uses a tower to receive the focused sunlight. It uses an array of flat, movable mirrors (called heliostats) to focus the sun's rays upon a collector tower (the target). Early designs used these focused rays to heat water, and used the resulting steam to…

A very small solar PV system – such as a solar lamp or an information and communication technology (ICT) appliance – with a power output of 1-10 watts which typically uses a voltage of up to 12 volts.

A device used for converting solar energy to thermal energy (heat), typically used for domestic water heating but also used for space heating, for industrial process heat or to drive thermal cooling machines. Evacuated tube and flat plate collectors that operate with water or a water/glycol mixture as the heat-transfer…

The direct conversion of solar radiation into electricity by the interaction of light with the electrons in a semiconductor device or cell. Solar PV cells are constructed from semiconducting materials that use sunlight to separate electrons from atoms to create an electric current. Modules are formed by interconnecting individual cells.…

Inverters convert the direct current (DC) generated by solar PV modules into alternating current (AC), which can be fed into the electric grid or used by a local, off-grid network. Conventional string and central solar inverters are connected to multiple modules to create an array which effectively is a single…

Also called concentrating solar power or solar thermal electricity, STE. Technology which uses mirrors to focus sunlight into an intense solar beam that heats a working fluid in a solar receiver, which then drives a turbine or heat engine/generator to produce electricity. The mirrors can be arranged in a variety of…

Technologies which use mirrors to focus sunlight on a receiver . These are usually smaller-sized modules used for the production of heat and steam below 400 °C for industrial applications, laundries and commercial cooking.

Technology which uses mirrors or lenses to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a relatively small area of photovoltaic cells which generate electricity . Low-, medium- and high-concentration CPV systems (depending on the design of reflectors or lenses used) operate most efficiently in concentrated, direct sunlight.

A type of foundation with a cylindrical tube (normally steel) that is normally driven tens of metres into the sea bed, although it can also be inserted into pre-drilled holes. A collective term used to describe all steel foundations other than monopiles. Includes braced, welded, space-frame structures (collectively called ‘jackets’),…