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Solar Glossary

Understanding solar terminology made simple. Your guide to common solar energy terms.

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A

AC (Alternating Current)
The type of electricity used in your home. Solar panels produce DC, which must be converted to AC by an inverter.
Azimuth
The compass direction a solar panel faces. In Canada, south-facing (180°) is optimal.

B

Balance of System (BOS)
All solar system components except the panels: inverters, racking, wiring, disconnects, etc.

D

DC (Direct Current)
The type of electricity produced by solar panels. Must be converted to AC for home use.
Degradation Rate
How much panel efficiency decreases over time. Quality panels degrade ~0.3-0.5% per year.

G

Grid-Tied System
A solar system connected to the utility grid. Excess power goes to the grid; you draw from the grid when needed.

I

Inverter
Device that converts DC electricity from panels to AC electricity for your home. Types include string inverters, microinverters, and power optimizers.
Irradiance
The amount of solar energy hitting a surface, measured in kWh/m²/day. Saskatchewan averages 4.5-5.0 kWh/m²/day.

K

kW (Kilowatt)
A measure of power capacity. A 10kW system can produce up to 10,000 watts at any moment under ideal conditions.
kWh (Kilowatt-hour)
A measure of energy production/consumption. A 10kW system might produce 12,000 kWh per year in Saskatchewan.

M

Microinverter
A small inverter attached to each panel. Allows panels to work independently and enables panel-level monitoring.
Monocrystalline
Solar cells made from single-crystal silicon. More efficient and more expensive than polycrystalline.

N

Net Metering
A billing arrangement where excess solar power is exported to the grid and credited to your account. SaskPower offers net metering.

O

Off-Grid System
A solar system not connected to the utility grid, requiring battery storage for nighttime and cloudy periods.

P

Panel Efficiency
The percentage of sunlight a panel converts to electricity. Modern panels are 19-22% efficient.
Peak Sun Hours
Hours per day with 1 kWh/m² of sunlight. Saskatchewan averages 4.5-5.0 peak sun hours.
Photovoltaic (PV)
Technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors.
Polycrystalline
Solar cells made from multiple silicon crystals. Less efficient but less expensive than monocrystalline.
Power Optimizer
A device attached to each panel that optimizes DC output before it reaches a central inverter. Used with SolarEdge systems.

R

Racking
The mounting system that attaches solar panels to your roof or ground.

S

SaskPower
Saskatchewan's electric utility. Offers net metering and interconnection for solar systems.
Solar Array
The complete collection of solar panels in a system.
String Inverter
A central inverter that handles power from multiple panels "strung" together. Simpler and less expensive than microinverters.

T

Tilt Angle
The angle at which panels are mounted from horizontal. In Saskatchewan, ~50° is optimal for year-round production.

W

Watt (W)
A unit of power. Most residential panels are 350-450 watts each.

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