Glossary

The German Renewable Energy act that regulates feed-in-tariffs for renewable energy related technology in Germany

Flow of electric charge through a conductive medium

Energy that is associated with electric charges and their movements

Light produced by electricity

The flow of electrons that is used to power many devices.

Process of producing electric energy or the amount of electric energy produced from energy sources. Usually measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) or megawatt hours (MWh).

Device that uses electric energy and converts it into mechanical energy in order to turn a shaft.

Amount of energy produced per second.

Substations, installations, cables or lines that are used for the distribution and transmission of electricity.

Magnetism that is produced by an electric current

This is energy that travels in waves; can be looked as a combination of electric and magnetic energy

Radiation made of traveling magnetic and electric waves.

Subatomic particle with a negative charge.

The electric power industry has primarily been made up of investor-owned utilities. Restructuring this industry would mean the introduction of competition as well as decreased regulatory control.

Vertical parallel metal plates utilizing mutual attraction of opposite electric charges. This is used to remove dust or ash particles or liquid droplets that are suspended within gas.

Rapid shutdown of a WT triggered by a protection system

Discharge of a substance into the environment; generally references to release of particles or gases into the air

The capacity of doing work, either potential or kinetic.

The use of energy as a source of power.

The amount of time a power generating facility needs to breakeven with the energy-input of the manufacturing process.

Transition to a sustainable economy by sustainable development, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Characteristics of the environment such as humidity, altitude, temperature, etc that affects WT behavior

This is the chemical name for ((CH₃)3COC₂H₅). It is a colorless and flammable oxygenated hydrocarbon. It is created by the catalytic etherification of isobutylene with ethanol

This is the systematic evaluation to ensure a process or product meets specific requirements

Within a solar thermal collector, it is an absorber tube. This is contained within a evacuated glass cylinder.

Non-Utility electricity generator that does not qualify as a facility under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

Factors that affect the operation of a WT, including climatic factors, electrical network connections and wind regimes.

This is the highest wind speed, averaged over t seconds.

Costs or benefits generated as a byproduct of an economic activity.