There are two main types of photovoltaic system.

Gridconnected
systems (on-grid systems) are connected
to the grid and inject the electricity into the grid. For
this reason, the direct current produced by the solar
modules is converted into a grid-compatible alternating
current. However, solar power plants can also be operated
without the grid and are then called autonomous
systems (off-grid systems).
More than 90 % of photovoltaic systems worldwide are
currently implemented as grid-connected systems. The
power conditioning unit also monitors the functioning
of the system and the grid and switches off the system
in case of faults.

The solar resource: The sun is the power source for all PV systems in our solar system.
PV cells: When treated with chemical impurities in a process called doping, these thin sections of
semiconductor material react to sun light, creating voltage and current.
Module: Modules are usually made up of multiple cells wired together in series and parallel to
provide specific voltages and current.
Panel: The term panel is used interchangeably with the term module.
Array: An array consists of multiple panels wired together in series and parallel to provide
specific voltages and current. The array is usually fastened to a mounting structure.
Battery: A battery can be defined as a direct current (DC) electrical energy storage device. Even
PV systems that are connected to a grid can often benefits from a battery backup system outages
are a concern.
Inverter: The DC-AC inverter converts direct current (DC) power into alternating current (AC)
for use in appliances, and other devices.
Charge controller: A charge controller regulates, charges, and maintains battery voltage.
Electrical load: Electrical load includes the appliances and other devices that use the energy
generated by the PV system. Electrical loads can be either DC or AC. It is possible to have both
kinds of electrical load on the same PV system.
Wiring: The wiring includes the wires also known as conductors that connect the system
components to complete circuits.
Surge protector: A surge protector is a device that safeguards against electrical shock from short
circuits and damaging power fluctuations.

A PV system may have to be sized to store a sufficient amount of power in the batteries to meet
power demand during several days of cloudy weather.

The energy produced during the day, which was not consumed by loads, is saved in batteries.
Saved energy can be used at night or during days with bad weather conditions. Batteries in
photovoltaic systems are often charged/discharged; therefore they must meet stronger
requirements. Most often used classic lead-acid (PbA) batteries are produced especially for PV
systems, where deep discharge is required. Other battery types, such as nickel-cadmium (NiCd)
or nickel metal hydride (NiMH), are rarely used, except in portable devices. Hermetical batteries
often consist of an electrolyte in gel form. Such batteries do not require maintenance. Typical
solar system batteries lifetimes span from three to five years, depending heavily on
charging/discharging cycles, temperature and other parameters. The more often the battery is
charged/discharged, the shorter the lifetime.