General Solar Energy Terms

  • PV – Photovoltaic
  • SPV – Solar Photovoltaic
  • RE – Renewable Energy
  • RES – Renewable Energy Sources
  • DER – Distributed Energy Resources
  • IPP – Independent Power Producer

Technical & Electrical Terms

  • MPPT – Maximum Power Point Tracking
  • STC – Standard Test Conditions
  • VOC – Open Circuit Voltage
  • ISC – Short Circuit Current
  • Pmax – Maximum Power Output
  • Vmp – Voltage at Maximum Power
  • Imp – Current at Maximum Power
  • O&M – Operations and Maintenance
  • LCOE – Levelized Cost of Electricity

Solar Panel Components & System Terms

  • BOS – Balance of System
  • DC – Direct Current
  • AC – Alternating Current
  • BMS – Battery Management System
  • PCS – Power Conversion System
  • EMS – Energy Management System
  • VFD – Variable Frequency Drive
  • PWM – Pulse Width Modulation

Certifications & Standards

  • IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission
  • UL – Underwriters Laboratories
  • ISO – International Organization for Standardization
  • NFPA – National Fire Protection Association

Government & Financial Terms

  • PPA – Power Purchase Agreement
  • FIT – Feed-in Tariff
  • ITC – Investment Tax Credit
  • ROI – Return on Investment
  • NEM – Net Energy Metering
  • RPS – Renewable Portfolio Standard