English Glossary

active power

proportional-integral

per unit

A CSP technology which uses a long, parabolic-shaped mirror to concentrate solar radiation onto a central receiver tube running along the focal line of the parabolic mirror to produce high temperatures.

A method used to calculate a pay-back period and indicate how long it will take to recover the initial investment cost.

Is defined as the time it takes until the cumulated outgoing cash-flows equal the cumulated incoming cash-flows, i.e. until the project breaks even.

point of common coupling

phase change material

plan-do-check-act approach

The highest energy (or power) demand during a specific period (generally, one year).

Hours within a period of time during where the load is highest.

The amount of electrical power a photovoltaic module will produce at Standard Test Conditions (normally 1,000 W/m2 and 25 ⁰C cell temperature), expressed in units of watt-peak (Wp) or a related unit such as kilowatt-peak (kWp) or megawatt-peak (MWp).

If a location receives an average 1,200 kWh/m2/year, it is said to receive an average 1,200 PSH per day. If a location receives an average 5 kWh/m2/day, it is said to receive an average 5 PSH per day. A peak sun hour is equivalent to 1000 watts of solar energy falling on an area of 1 square meter for 1 hour or for example as 500 watts of solar energy falling on an area of 1 square meter for 2 hours.

electric power

A pipe for transporting water to the hydro turbine

Cp - a non-dimensional value describes the ratio of power that is captured by the wind turbine and fed into the grid. It is used to measure the wind turbine efficiency.

PR -the ratio of actual electricity output from a PV system and possible electricity output under 'ideal' conditions (no losses etc.). Expressed as a factor or a percentage.

Generator where the excitation field is provided by a permanent magnet instead of a coil.The term synchronous refers here to the fact that the rotor and magnetic field rotate with the same speed, because the magnetic field is generated through a shaft mounted permanent magnet mechanism and current is induced into the stationary armature.

PMSG - synchronous generator equipped with an excitation system consisting of permanent magnets.

A substance with a high latent heat of fusion which is capable of storing and releasing large amounts of energy as it changes state between liquid and solid, and vice versa.