Solar is Future: What does kilowatt peak (kWp) actually mean?

Start Solar Energy Source SMA Technology for Our Future Solar Power Professional Search FAQ / Glossary FAQ Glossary

Photovoltaic technology and how it works Environment and Recycling Installation design and investment Facts and Fiction What components are PV systems made up of? How does a solar cell work? What does a solar cell consist of? How does an inverter work? What does kilowatt peak (kWp) actually mean? Are there different efficiency values? How important is the efficiency of the inverter? Is the efficiency of a silicon cell generally limited? Is there an unlimited amount of silicon available? What happens when it is cloudy? How is the photovoltaic system installed? What is "electrical isolation"? What happens if the solar installation is struck by lightning? How can solar energy be stored for later use? What does kilowatt peak (kWp) actually mean? Kilowatt peak stands for peak power. This value specifies the output power achieved by a Solar module under full solar radiation (under set Standard Test Conditions). Solar radiation of 1,000 watts per square meter is used to define standard conditions. Peak power is also referred to as "nominal power" by most manufacturers. Since it is based on measurements under optimum conditions, the peak power is not the same as the power under actual radiation conditions. In practice, this will be approximately 15-20% lower due to the considerable heating of the solar cells.

Photovoltaic technology and how it works Environment and Recycling Installation design and investment Facts and Fiction What components are PV systems made up of? How does a solar cell work? What does a solar cell consist of? How does an inverter work? What does kilowatt peak (kWp) actually mean? Are there different efficiency values? How important is the efficiency of the inverter? Is the efficiency of a silicon cell generally limited? Is there an unlimited amount of silicon available? What happens when it is cloudy? How is the photovoltaic system installed? What is "electrical isolation"? What happens if the solar installation is struck by lightning? How can solar energy be stored for later use?

Photovoltaic technology and how it works

Environment and Recycling

Installation design and investment

Facts and Fiction

What components are PV systems made up of?

How does a solar cell work?

What does a solar cell consist of?

How does an inverter work?

What does kilowatt peak (kWp) actually mean?

Are there different efficiency values?

How important is the efficiency of the inverter?

Is the efficiency of a silicon cell generally limited?

Is there an unlimited amount of silicon available?

What happens when it is cloudy?

How is the photovoltaic system installed?

What is "electrical isolation"?

What happens if the solar installation is struck by lightning?

How can solar energy be stored for later use?

What does kilowatt peak (kWp) actually mean? Kilowatt peak stands for peak power. This value specifies the output power achieved by a Solar module under full solar radiation (under set Standard Test Conditions). Solar radiation of 1,000 watts per square meter is used to define standard conditions. Peak power is also referred to as "nominal power" by most manufacturers. Since it is based on measurements under optimum conditions, the peak power is not the same as the power under actual radiation conditions. In practice, this will be approximately 15-20% lower due to the considerable heating of the solar cells.

Kilowatt peak stands for peak power. This value specifies the output power achieved by a Solar module under full solar radiation (under set Standard Test Conditions). Solar radiation of 1,000 watts per square meter is used to define standard conditions. Peak power is also referred to as "nominal power" by most manufacturers. Since it is based on measurements under optimum conditions, the peak power is not the same as the power under actual radiation conditions. In practice, this will be approximately 15-20% lower due to the considerable heating of the solar cells.

solar-is-future.com © 2011 SMA Solar Technology AG | Contact | Corporate Information | SMA Corporate Website