Reference
Solar glossary
The words that turn up in quotes, subsidy forms and DISCOM paperwork — in plain English.
- kWp
- Kilowatt peak. The rated output of a solar system under standard test conditions. It is a size, not an amount of electricity produced.
- kWh
- Kilowatt hour. One unit of electricity, and what your bill charges you for.
- ALMM
- Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. The MNRE list of solar modules eligible for subsidised installations.
- DISCOM
- Distribution company. The utility that supplies electricity in your area and approves your net-metering application.
- Net metering
- An arrangement where surplus solar power flows to the grid and is credited against what you draw.
- Performance ratio
- How much of the theoretically available energy a real system delivers, after losses from heat, dust, wiring and the inverter.
- GHI
- Global horizontal irradiance. How much solar energy reaches a horizontal surface, in kWh per square metre per day.
- Payback period
- How long the savings take to repay what you spent after subsidy.
- Degradation
- The slow annual decline in panel output, typically about 0.5 percent a year.
- Mono PERC
- The most common panel type in India. Good efficiency at a reasonable price.
- Bifacial
- A panel that also collects light reflected onto its rear face.
- TOPCon
- A newer, higher-efficiency cell technology. Costs more per watt, produces more from the same area.
- DBT
- Direct Benefit Transfer. How the PM Surya Ghar subsidy reaches your bank account.