Energy available due to position.

The ratio of energy reflected from a surface in a given waveband to the energy incident in that waveband.

The amount of energy that a building absorbs due to solar energy striking its exterior and conducting to the interior or passing through windows and being absorbed by materials in the building.

A device that achieves very high temperatures by the use of reflectors to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a small receiver.

A solar photovoltaic device that produces a specified power output under defined test conditions, usually composed of groups of solar cells connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel combinations.

The structure (in a residential heating appliance, industrial furnace, or power plant) into which combustion gases flow and are contained until they are emitted to the atmosphere.

The process of distilling (purifying) water using solar energy. Water can be placed in an air tight solar collector with a sloped glazing material, and as it heats and evaporates, distilled water condenses on the collector glazing, and runs down where it ...

The angle between a line from a point on the earth's surface to the center of the solar disc, and a line extending horizontally from the point.

A federally funded institute, created by the Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974, that conducted research and development of solar energy technologies. Became the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 1991.

The process of distributing electricity; usually defines that portion of an electrical utility's power lines between a utility's power pole and transformer and a customer's point of connection/meter.

An interior or exterior movable panel that operates on hinges or slides into place, used to protect windows or provide privacy.

The amount of power per unit area of a free windstream.

The use of solar thermal energy or solar electricity to power a cooling appliance. There are five basic types of solar cooling technologies: absorption cooling, which can use solar thermal energy to vaporize the refrigerant; desiccant cooling, which can u ...

A device used to collect, absorb, and transfer solar energy to a working fluid.

The angle between the sun's apparent position in the sky and true south, as measured on a horizontal plane.

The gas resulting from the combustion of a fuel that is emitted to the flue.

The amount of solar radiation, both direct and diffuse, received at any location.

An apparatus that replicates the solar spectrum, and used for testing solar energy conversion devices.

The apparent angle of the sun north or south of the eath's equatorial plane. The earth's rotation on its axis causes a daily change in the declination.

(see Feeder)