Glossary of terms

A dual-use approach involving the simultaneous operation of solar panels and active agricultural production (crops or livestock) carried out beneath or adjacent to the solar panels.

A technology that uses batteries of various types to store energy from the grid or from a renewable energy generation source and later discharge that energy when needed, such as at night or during periods without much wind.

A process of trapping carbon dioxide emissions from sources such as power plants, transporting the carbon dioxide, and then injecting it deep underground into porous rock formations for permanent storage.

Small, modular energy technologies that are installed and generate energy close to where it is needed. DER systems can be connected to the local electric power grid or isolated from the grid in stand-alone applications, such as a solar photovoltaic system that serves a single home or business.

The portion of the electric system dedicated to delivering electricity to the end user.

The practice of co-locating energy infrastructure and another land use, such as agriculture or habitat restoration, on the same land.

The process by which a power generation system (like solar or wind) is physically and technically linked to the electricity grid.

A federal incentive that allows businesses or homeowners to deduct a percentage of solar or clean energy installation costs from taxes.

The average cost to build and operate a power plant over its lifetime, divided by the total electricity it produces.

A long-term contract where a buyer agrees to purchase electricity from a power producer at a fixed rate. Corporations can buy physical PPAs or virtual PPAs. In the latter, the buyer receives Renewable Energy Credits but does not physically receive the electrons generated by the renewable energy source.

State policies requiring utilities to source a specific percentage of electricity from renewable sources.

The portion of the electric system dedicated to transferring large quantities of high-voltage electric energy between its source of generation and major substations, where it is transformed for delivery via the distribution system.

Large-scale renewable energy generation or battery storage projects designed to feed significant amounts of electricity into the grid. Utility-scale projects do not serve specific homes or businesses. Utility-scale projects are typically defined by a net capacity of at least 1 megawatt, although some developers, utilities, and government entities set higher minimum thresholds for their own definitions.

A connected collection of small-scale distributed energy resource (DER) technologies that are coordinated with grid operations to provide many of the same energy services and even capacity as a traditional power plant.