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Definitions
Below is a directory of terms used in discussions about solar power. Most of the terms have been reproduced from the International Energy Agency, the UN Environment Programme or the US Department of Energy.
Technologies to harness solar power as a path to low-carbon energy are developing at breakneck speed. How can developing countries best make use of them to benefit the millions of rural poor who still live without electricity?
P
Parabolic dish
A high-temperature (above 180 degrees Fahrenheit) solar thermal concentrator, generally bowl-shaped, used to collect or distribute energy.
Photovoltaic (PV) array
An interconnected system of PV modules that function as a single electricity-producing unit.
Photovoltaic (PV) cell
The smallest semiconductor element within a PV module to convert light into electrical energy. Also called a solar cell.
Photovoltaic (PV) module
The smallest complete environmentally protected assembly of interconnected PV cells. PV modules are generally installed in a frame on a rooftop or on a support mount. The most common type of PV module is a solar panel.
Photovoltaics (PV)
PV solar technology converts solar energy directly into electricity (as opposed to heat).
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