The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a heat pump operating in the heating mode. It takes into account the variations in temperature that can occur within a season and is the average number of Btu of heat delivered for every watt-hour of electri ...

The rate of heat production by a steady current in any part of an electrical circuit that is proportional to the resistance and to the square of the current, or, the internal energy of an ideal gas depends only on its temperature.

The physically connected generation, transmission, and distribution facilities and components operated as a unit.

The first law states that energy can not be created or destroyed; the second law states that when a free exchange of heat occurs between two materials, the heat always moves from the warmer to the cooler material.

The storage of heat energy during utility off-peak times at night, for use during the next day without incurring daytime peak electric rates.

A device for converting a solid fuel to a gaseous fuel.

The process of transmitting electricity over one or more separately owned electric transmission and distribution systems. (See Wholesale and Retail Wheeling.)

A substance(s) or pollutant emitted as a result of a process.

Waste material from households and businesses in a community that is not regulated as hazardous.

The approximate energy producing capacity of a power plant, under specified conditions, usually during periods of highest load.

These brines are hot (300 F to 400 F) (149 C to 204 C) pressurized waters that contain dissolved methane and lie at depths of 10,000 ft (3048 m) to more than 20,000 ft (6096 m) below the earth's surface. The best known geopressured reservoirs lie along th ...

A group of wind turbines interconnected to a common utility system through a system of transformers, distribution lines, and (usually) one substation. Operation, control, and maintenance functions are often centralized through a network of computerized mo ...

The cutting of a grid pattern of grooves in a semiconductor material, generally for the purpose of making interconnections.

The unit price and quantity to which it applies as specified in a rate schedule or contract.

A heat storage system that uses a heat storage medium, and where the additional or removal of heat results in a change in temperature.

The prescribed level of pollutants allowed in outside or indoor air as established by legislation.

A unit of rate of water evaporation equal to the evaporation per hour of 34.5 pounds of water at a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit into steam at 212 degrees F.

The process in which a solid fuel is converted into a gas; also known as pyrolitic distillation or pyrolysis. Production of a clean fuel gas makes a wide variety of power options available.

The natural, convective movement of air or water due to differences in temperature. In solar passive design a thermosyphon collector can be constructed and attached to a house to deliver heat to the home by the continuous pattern of the convective loop (o ...

A thin sheet of material (metal) of a heat exchanger that conducts heat to a fluid.