Fixed-tilt - An installation method for solar panels that is stationary and faces the sun at a desired angle for maximum sun exposure.

 

Tracking Mount - Panels that move over the course of a day to always be facing the sun.

 

Ground-mount - An installation method for solar panels involving a fixed steel structure that is implanted in the earth.

 

String - A series of solar panels grouped together to combine power and send energy to a common source.

 

LIDAR - A tool used to determine heights of objects in a given area; for our project, these heights refer specifically to buildings and obstructions for gaining a better understanding of sunlight availability.

 

Irradiance - A quantification of the annual amount of sunlight that strikes a given area to power a solar system.

 

Inverter - A module added to a string of solar panels to convert DC solar energy to AC power used by the majority of American households and businesses.

 

IRR - (Internal Rate of Return) A financial measure of an investment's return. Specifically, it is the annual return that makes the net present value equal to zero.The higher the IRR, the more profitable and desirable the investment is.

 

NPV - (Net Present Value) A financial measure of the current value of an investment, calculated by the difference between cash inflows and outflows. A positive NPV indicates an attractive investment; the inflows succeed the outflows. 

 

Discount Rate - Refers to the interest rate used to determine the present value of an investment.

 

PPA - (Power Purchase Agreement) Contract between a solar developer and customer receiving the solar energy production. The customer pays a fixed price per Watt to purchase power from the developer. The beauty of a PPA is that the customer does not have high upfront costs and is able to make the switch to green energy.

 

Net Metering - This occurs when a solar site produces more energy than the customer needs. The customer is able to sell this energy to the utility provider for credits that they can use in winter months when solar irradiance/production is not as high.

 

Federal Tax Credit - A percentage that a taxpayer can subtract directly from taxes owed. An ITC of 26% for solar projects makes these investments more attractive to customers and developers.

 

Kilowatt/Kilowatt Hours - A kilowatt (kW) is a measure of power, the demand at any given time. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a measure of energy, the consumption of power over a period of time. 

A kWh is the power demand (kW) multiplied by the total amount of time the power is being used (in hours). So, if a 30-watt bulb is running for 24 hours, 720 watt-hours or .72 kWh is consumed (30 watts times 24 hours).

https://www.solarpowerauthority.com/solar-term-glossary/

 

Solar Grazing - The use of ground-mounts while allowing livestock to graze the field. This setup feeds the animals and keeps the field’s grass from growing and blocking sunlight to the panels.

 

Agrivoltaics - The use of ground-mounts on the same plot of land with crops. Certain crops can still grow with ground-mounts blocking some of their sunlight. This allows large areas of land to be used for both solar production and agriculture.