Energy Sources Basic Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes covering energy production, electricity infrastructure, and photovoltaic technology terminology.

fossil fuel

the remains of dead plants and animals in the Earth's crust that is burned

renewable energy

energy resources that are not used up

non-renewable energy

energy resorces that are used up

to soar

to rise very quickly to a high level

to approve

to officially agree to or allow sth

storage

keeping things somewhere so that they can be used later

to harness

to control something, usually in order to use its power

supply and demand

the balance between goods available and the amount that people want to buy

pylon

a tall metal structure to carry electricity using wires, fixed above the ground

utility

a company that provides a service such as an electricity or gas supply

substation

a place where electricity goes from one part of the electricity system to another

grid

a system of wires through which electricity is connected to different power stations across a region

photovoltaic

able to produce electricity from light, or relating to the process of doing this

to strike

to hit or attack someone or something forcefully or violently

electron

an extremely small piece of matter with a negative electrical charge

to free

to make something available for someone to use

to generate

to produce energy in a particular form

layer

a level of material that is different from the material above or below it

silicon

a grey chemical element that is found in rocks and sand

electric field

the area surrounding an object with an electrical charge

to channel

to direct something into a particular place or situation

array

a large group of things or people

stand-alone

single, complete by itself

grid-tied

a semi-autonomous electrical generation or grid energy storage system

to make sense

to be clear and easy to understand

unreliable

not able to be trusted or believed

utility company

a company that supplies something such as electricity

feed-in tariff

money that is paid by a government for renewable energy

to monitor

to watch and check a situation carefully

flat roof

a roof almost level in contrast to the many types of sloped roofs

inclination

the angle at which something slopes

orientation

arrangement or direction

to face

to turn or be turned towards something physically

to estimate

to guess or calculate the cost, size, value, etc. of something

electricity

a form of energy that can be produced in several ways

to pay for itself

working so well that the earnings are the same amount of money sth costs

energy-efficient

using little electricity, gas

remote

a long way from any towns or cities

to feed

to supply

ray

a narrow beam of light, heat

calculation

adding etc. numbers to other numbers

savings

the money you keep

to waste

to use too much of something or use it badly

output

an amount of something produced by a person, machine, factory, country

to degrade

(of a substance) to change into a more simple chemical structure

funding

money from the government or organization

satisfaction

a pleasant feeling that you get when you receive something you wanted

free of charge

available at no cost

purchaser

the person who buys something

to perform

to do an action or piece of work

to expose

to remove what is covering something so that it can be seen

panel

a flat section in the shape of a rectangle

to convert

change from one type of system to another

semiconductor

a material, such as silicon, allowing current flow in certain conditions

junction

a place where, for instance, roads or railways come together

consumer unit

a type of distribution board

availability

the fact or possibility that you can buy, get, or have something

lead to

it causes that thing to happen or exist

inverter

a component that changes DC to AC current

components

a part that combines with other parts to make a machine or piece of equipment

hole

an empty space in an object

abundant

more than enough

photons

the basic unit of electromagnetic energy, travelling in waves, carrying light

life cycle

the length of time that something lasts or can be used

thereafter

continuing on from a particular point in time