Solar PV Glossary

In the Solar Photovoltaic sector the terminology can at times appear confusing, but hopefully our short guide to Solar Photovoltaic terminology below will help clarify things. If there’s something you can’t understand then please get in touch – we’re more than happy to help clarify things.

Click on the terms below to see a full explanation:

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

Smart Export Guarantee

Note that the SEG replaced FiTs for NEW installations from the 1st April 2019. 

The Smart Export Guarantee is a mechanism to pay people who generate small amounts of renewable energy for the electricity they export to the grid. It applies to people installing a renewable energy generating system using solar PV (as well as other renewables)

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FITs

Feed In Tariffs

Note that FiTs were withdrawn for NEW installations from the 1st April 2019. This information is for historic context only.

Feed in Tariffs are a payment made by an electricity company to the owner of Solar PV Panels to pay for the energy generated by the panels – used by the consumer AND exported into the electricity grid. They are currently funded by a small supplement added to everybody’s electricity bills – they are NOT funded by the government.

FiTs are guaranteed for 20 years for domestic Solar PV installations and are index linked to the retail price index.

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Inverter

The solar panels used to convert solar energy into electricity produce a Direct Current, DC. However, the electricity that we use in the house, office or factory are all Alternating Current, AC. An inverter is a piece of electrical equipment that converts Direct Current to Alternating Current – i.e. a device that converts the electricity generated by the solar panel into something that we can use.

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MCS

Microgeneration Certification Scheme

The MCS certificates microgeneration technologies used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources. Find out more about MCS certification.

All components used on a Solar PV system must be MCS approved to allow you to register to receive the Feed in Tariff.

Microinverter

An evolution of the Inverter system detailed above. A decentralised system featuring individual small inverters for each solar panel, installed under the panels themselves. The advantages are a cleaner install (no larger inverter required to be fitted within the loft space) and the ability for the system to optimise output on a panel by panel basis. Slightly more expensive than a traditional centralised inverter system, microinverters pay for themselves by allowing all panels to deliver at maximum output (unlike traditional inverters) even when the roof is covered by partial shade (e.g. from a chimney or nearby tree). The enphase microinverter system, in particular, also incorporates an incredibly detailed reporting and monitoring system – all accessible over the internet.

Photovoltaic

Photovoltaics is the process by which sunlight, or solar energy, is converted into energy, in the form of a direct current DC, using a material called a semiconductor. Note that the mains electricity that we use is Alternating Current or AC. See glossary term for Inverter.

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PV

An acronym for Photovoltaics.

RECC Assurance (formerly REAL Assurance)

Renewable Energy Consumer Code

The RECC Assurance Scheme was set up by the Renewable Energy Association. It aims to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to buy solar PV systems for their homes. Find out more about RECC assurance.

Voltage Optimisers

A hybrid microinverter/centralised inverter system, using a unit under each panel which allows all panels to deliver maximum power even during partial shading conditions, but still requiring a centralised inverter system.

Web box

A piece of equipment that monitors your electricity generation and makes it available on the internet. This allows you to see information such as current power production, power production over time, total power production and the amount of CO2 saved by using renewable solar pv generation.

REAL Assurance Domestic Solar PV logo

niceic logo

Tesla Energy approved reseller

MCS Solar PV certified installer logo