CSP – Concentrated Solar Power
Solar radiation is collected by concentrating it into a small area to generate very high temperatures. This heat is then used to drive conventional (usually steam) generators. These power generators are called Concentrated Solar Power Plants.
Off-Grid
This refers to electricity generation systems that are disconnected from the electric utility company.
PV - Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics (PV) is the process of generating electrical power by the conversion of solar radiation into direct current electricity via semiconductors. The commercial application makes use of solar panels that contain photovoltaic solar cells. Photovoltaics can contain monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide.
Semiconductors
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity that is somewhere between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter. Semiconductor are used in many electronic devices, e.g. radios, computers, telephones, transistors, diodes and solar cells. Semiconductor solar photovoltaic panels directly convert light energy into electrical energy.
Many materials are used to create semiconductors including: arsenic, gallium arsenide, germanium, hydrogenated amorphous silicon, silicon carbide, selenium and tellurium.
