| Word | Description |
| Peak power | PV modules are rated by their total power output. The peak power is the amount of power output a PV modules produces at Standard test conditions (STC) of a module operating temperature of 25 degrees Celsius in full sunshine (irradiance) of 1 000 watts per square meter. This is a clear summer day with sun approximately overhead and the cells faced directly towards the sun. Unit: Watt (W), also wirtten Wp by professionals in the field. |
| Performance ratio | Ratio of the final annual (monthly, daily) yield to the reference annual (monthly, daily) yield, where the reference annual (monthly, daily) yield is the theoretically annual (monthly, daily) available energy per kilowatt of installed power. |
| Petrochemicals | A chemical derived from petroleum or natural gas. |
| Phosphates | Used in detergents to soften water. Phosphates cause algae blooms, which block light to aquatic plants and animals leading to suffocation. |
| Photovoltaic array | A mechanically integrated assembly of modules and panels together with support structure to form a d.c. power producing unit. |
| Photovoltaic cell | A basic photovoltaic device, which generates electricity when, exposed to a light such as the solar radiation. All photovoltaic cells produce direct current (d.c.). |
| Photovoltaic module | The smallest complete environmentally protected assembly of interconnected photovoltaic cells. For crystalline silicon cells, after testing and sorting to match the current and voltage, the cells are interconnected and encapsulated between a transparent front, usually glass, and a backing material. This 'module' is then typically mounted in an aluminium frame. Modules are normally rated between 50 and 200 W, although several manufacturers now offer modules above 200 W. |
| Photovoltaic panel | A group of modules fastened together, pre-assembled and wired, designed to serve as an installable unit in a photovoltaic array. |
| Photovoltaic power system | Set of interconnected elements such as photovoltaic modules, inverters that convert d.c. current of the modules into a.c. current, storage batteries and all installation and control components with a photovoltaic power capacity of 40 W or more. The typology is different according to application: see off-grid and grid-connected photovoltaic power systems. |
| Photovoltaics | The process that produces electricity from sunlight. "Photo" refers to light and "voltaic" to voltage. |
| Pitch and Slope | Pitch/Slope - Pitch describes the degree of slope or incline. Slope describes a surface that is not horizontal or vertical. In the construction industry pitch is generally described as a whole number, as in "the roof has a 6 pitch" meaning for every 12 horizontal inches the roof goes up 6 vertical inches, commonly expressed as 6/12. Slope generally is described as an angle, as in "the stair has a 42 degree slope" A 12/12 pitch is a 45 degree slope, a 6/12 pitch a 26 degree 34 minute slope. Here is a chart showing the relationship between Pitch/Slope. Pitch Slope 2/12 9 deg 26 min 3/12 14 deg 00 min 4/12 18 deg 28 min 5/12 22 deg 27 min 6/12 26 deg 34 min 7/12 30 deg 15 min 8/12 33 deg 41 min 9/12 36 deg 52 min 10/12 39 deg 48 min 11/12 42 deg 30 min 12/12 45 deg 00 min |
| Post-consumer | Recycled material that has served its original use (magazines, office paper, newspapers, etc.) and has been recycled by consumers. |
| Pre-consumer | new materials that have been recovered or diverted from the solid waste stream and incorporated into new products. |
| PV | Abbreviation of photovoltaic (adjective) or photovoltaics (noun). |
| PVPS | Abbreviation of photovoltaic power system(s). |
