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Energy & Renewables vocabulary · Solar Energy

Solar cell

Meaning in energy & renewables, with examples

/ˌsoʊlər ˈsel/nounCore term

In energy & renewables, solar cell means: A thin semiconductor device, usually made of silicon, that produces electricity when light falls on it. Many cells connected together make up a solar panel.

In Turkish: güneş hücresi, fotovoltaik hücre, güneş pili

How it is used

Used in manufacturing, research and technical specifications. Cells are produced, tested, connected in strings and laminated into modules. Engineers talk about cell efficiency and cell technologies such as monocrystalline, PERC, TOPCon and heterojunction (HJT).

Example sentences

  1. Each solar cell produces only about half a volt, so cells are connected in series.

  2. The new factory will produce solar cells as well as modules.

Common collocations

  • silicon solar cell
  • cell efficiency
  • monocrystalline cell
  • solar cell manufacturing
  • solar panelA flat, framed unit made of many solar cells that turns sunlight directly into electricity. Many panels connected together form a solar array.
  • photovoltaicDescribing technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials, as in solar cells and solar panels. It is usually shortened to PV.
  • irradianceThe power of sunlight falling on a surface at a given moment, measured in watts per square metre (W/m²). It sets how much a solar panel can produce at that time.
  • kilowatt peakThe 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.

More terms: Solar Energy

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