Megawatt peak

MW_P

Output of a solar array, which when operating at its peak power point under Standard Test Conditions (see below), produces one million watts direct current

Megawatt AC

MW_AC or MW [read]

One million watts of alternating current. When the array is operating at STC, its MW_AC is the MW_P x the performance ratio.

Performance ratio

%

Ratio of actual output of a solar generating system to the rated peak output of its solar array under prevailing solar radiation conditions [ref chapter 14 of the book]

Megawatt hours

MWh

Energy produced by a power plant delivering one MW for one hour. Almost always rated in terms of AC for utility-scale systems

Megawatt hours per annum

MWh/y

Number of megawatt hours delivered by a generating station over the course of a year (a good comparative measure for solar systems, because seasonal output can vary substantially, but year-to-year variations are relatively small)

Load factor or Capacity utilisation

%

Ratio of the electrical energy produced by a generating unit relative to the energy that could have been produced at continuous full-power operation during the same period (typically 12% to 28% for PV plant, depending on location)

Solar duty

MWh/y/

MW_P

Number of MWh per annum for each MW_P of rated capacity (gives the output and revenue potential of a project). Effectively = load factor ÷ performance ratio.

Availability

% or h/y

Percentage of the time that electricity generating plant is available to produce electricity (free from downtime). Not to be confused with capacity factor

Standard Test Conditions

STC

For solar module testing, defined in international standards; insolation intensity of 1kWm-2 normal to the plane of the solar module at ambient temperature of 25°C and light spectrum equivalent to AM1.5

Utility-scale

See discussion here

AC

Alternating current

CDM

Clean Development Mechanism (of the UNFCCC)

CSP

Concentrated solar power (Wiki-Solar does not cover CSP projects, except as detailed here)

DC

Direct current

FITs

Feed-in Tariffs; a support mechanism, where producers are paid at a pre-set level for electricity fed into the grid

JNNSM

The Indian government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

MW, MWh, MWp

See definitions on the left

PPA

Power purchase agreement

PV

Photovoltaic (direct conversion of light to electricity)

RPS

Renewable portfolio standards; a renewable energy support mechanism used mainly in certain states of the USA

UNFCCC

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change the administrative body for the Kyoto Protocol