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Energy & Renewables vocabulary · Solar Energy

Kilowatt peak

Meaning in energy & renewables, with examples

nounCommon term

In energy & renewables, kilowatt peak means: The power output of a solar system under standard test conditions, used to state the size of a PV installation. It is written kWp; larger plants use MWp.

In Turkish: kilovat peak, kWp

How it is used

Used in quotes, datasheets and project documents: a 10 kWp rooftop system, a 60 MWp solar farm. Standard test conditions are 1,000 W/m² of sunlight at a cell temperature of 25 °C, so real output is usually lower. Annual yield is often given in kWh per kWp.

Example sentences

  1. A 10 kilowatt peak system on this roof should produce about 14,000 kWh a year.

  2. Prices for small systems are quoted per kilowatt peak, for example 900 euros per kWp.

Common collocations

  • kWp system
  • per kilowatt peak
  • MWp solar farm
  • specific yield in kWh/kWp
  • solar panelA flat, framed unit made of many solar cells that turns sunlight directly into electricity. Many panels connected together form a solar array.
  • megawattA unit of power equal to one million watts, or 1,000 kilowatts. It is used to describe the size of power plants, wind turbines and large solar projects.
  • energy yieldThe amount of electricity a solar or wind plant produces, or is expected to produce, over a period, usually a year. It is the basis of revenue forecasts.
  • rooftop solarSolar panels installed on the roofs of homes, offices, factories or warehouses, mainly to supply the building's own electricity needs.
  • inverterA device that converts the direct current (DC) produced by solar panels or batteries into alternating current (AC) that buildings can use or that can be fed into the grid.

More terms: Solar Energy

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