For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
ACCESSORY RESIDENTIAL SOLAR: | Solar systems up to 25 kW intended to offset residential electrical usage demand. |
ARRAY: | Any number of electrically connected photovoltaic (PV) modules providing a single electrical output. |
CUSTOMER GENERATION: | An arrangement with a local electric utility that allows customers to receive a credit for surplus electricity generated by certain renewable energy systems. |
GROUND-MOUNTED SYSTEM: | A solar photovoltaic system mounted on a structure, pole or series of poles constructed specifically to support the photovoltaic system and not attached to any other structure. |
KILOWATT (KW): | A unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 Watts, which constitutes the basic unit of electrical demand. A watt is a metric measurement of power (not energy) and is the rate (not the duration) at which electricity is used. 1,000 kW is equal to 1 megawatt (MW). |
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV): | A semiconductor-based device that converts light directly into electricity. |
ROOF-MOUNTED SYSTEM: | A solar system attached to any part or type of roof on a building or structure that is either the principal structure or an accessory structure on a recorded parcel. |
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM (SES): | An energy system of which the primary purpose is to harvest energy by transforming solar energy into another form of energy or transferring heat from a collector to another medium using mechanical, electrical, or chemical means. Very small accessory systems of 2 kW or less shall not be considered a solar energy system for the purpose of permitting except when cumulatively they exceed other provisions of this ordinance. |
SOLAR FARM: | A commercial facility that converts sunlight into electricity, whether by photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar thermal devices (CST), or other conversion technology, for the purpose of sale of generated electricity. |
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) RELATED EQUIPMENT: | Items including a solar photovoltaic cell, panel or array, lines, mounting brackets, inverters, framing, and foundations used for or intended to be used for collection of solar energy. |
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM: | A solar collection system consisting of one or more building- and/or ground-mounted systems, solar photovoltaic cells, panels or arrays and solar related equipment that rely upon solar radiation as an energy source for collection, inversion, storage and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation. |
TRACKING SYSTEM: | A number of photovoltaic modules mounted such that they track the movement of the sun across the sky to maximize energy production, either with a single-axis or dual-axis mechanism. (Ord. 09-09, 10-6-2009; amd. Res. 20-26, 9-21-2021) |