A thin-film PV silicon cell having no crystalline structure. Manufactured by depositing layers of doped silicon on a substrate. Easier and cheaper to make than crystalline, but less efficient and slowly degrades over time.
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Ampere (amp)
A unit of electrical current or rate of flow of electrons. One volt across one ohm of resistance causes a current flow of one ampere.
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Ampere hour (Ah)
The quantity of electrical energy equal to the flow of current of one ampere for one hour. The term is used to quantify the energy stored in a battery.
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Angle of Incidence
The angle that a ray of sun makes with a line perpendicular to the surface.
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Anode
The positive electrode in an electrochemical cell (battery). Also, the positive terminal of a diode.
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Azimuth Angle
The angle between true south and the point on the horizon directly below the sun.
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Balance of System
Represents all components and costs other than the photovoltaic modules/array. It includes design costs, land, site preparation, system installation, support structures, power conditioning, operation and maintenance costs, indirect storage, and related costs.
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Battery
Two or more electrochemical cells enclosed in a container and electrically interconnected in an appropriate series/parallel arrangement to provide the required operating voltage and current levels. Under common usage, the term battery also applies to a single cell if it constitutes the entire electrochemical storage system.
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Battery Available Capacity
The total maximum charge, expressed in ampere-hours, that can be withdrawn from a cell or battery under a specific set of operating conditions including discharge rate, temperature, initial state of charge, age, and cut-off voltage.
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Battery Cycle Life
The number of cycles, to a specified depth of discharge, that a cell or battery can undergo before failing to meet its specified capacity or efficiency performance criteria.
