The average time a minority carrier exists before recombination.

The generation of electricity or shaft power by an energy conversion system and the concurrent use of rejected thermal energy from the conversion system as an auxiliary energy source.

The prevailing or average weather conditions of a geographic region.

The process of changing regulatory policies and laws to increase competition among suppliers of commodities and service. The process of deregulating the electric power industry was initiated by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. (See also Restructuring)

Crops grown specifically for their fuel value. These include food crops such as corn and sugarcane, and nonfood crops such as poplar trees and switchgrass. Currently, two energy crops are under development: short-rotation woody crops, which are fast-growi ...

A complete PV power system composed of the module (or arrary), and balance-of-system (BOS) components including the array supports, electrical conductors/wiring, fuses, safety disconnects, and grounds, charge controllers, inverters, battery storage, etc.

The liquid resulting when water vapor contacts a cool surface; also the liquid resulting when a vaporized working fluid (such as a refrigerant) is cooled or depressurized.

A type of home mortgage that takes into account the energy savings of a home that has cost-effective energy saving improvements that will reduce energy costs thereby allowing the homeowner to more income to the mortgage payment. A borrower can qualify for ...

An instrument for measuring relative humidity by means of wet and dry-bulb temperatures.

An electrochemical device that converts chemical energy directly into electricity.

A device used to regulate motor speed, or, in a wind energy conversion system, to control the rotational speed of the rotor.

A condition that can occur in a solar collector if the working fluid does not circulate when sun is shining on the collector.

A heat exchanger that transfers the heat contained in a liquid heat transfer fluid to air.

A large power plant that generates power for distribution to multiple customers.

An electrical installation containing power conversion (and sometimes generation) equipment, such as transformers, compensators, and circuit breakers.

The use of two or more different fuels (e.g. wood and coal) simultaneously in the same combustion chamber of a power plant.

The ratio of the coincident, maximum demand or two or more loads to the sum of their noncoincident maximum demand for a given period; the reciprocal of the diversity factor, and is always less than or equal to one.

A room that faces south (in the northern hemisphere), or a small structure attached to the south side of a house.

The temperature to which air must be cooled, at constant pressure and water vapor content, in order for saturation or condensation to occur; the temperature at which the saturation pressure is the same as the existing vapor pressure; also called saturatio ...

A clear, colorless, very mobile liquid that is flammable and poisonous; used as a fuel and fuel additive, and to produce chemicals.