Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI): the use of advanced metering technology, such as smart meters, to provide real-time energy consumption data and enable advanced grid management.
Analog circuit design: the design of circuits that operate with continuous signals, such as audio and video signals.
Arc flash: a dangerous release of energy caused by an electric arc, which can cause burns, explosions, and fires.
Battery energy storage system (BESS): An energy storage system that uses batteries to store energy.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS): a system that stores energy using batteries.
Bode plot: a graphical representation of the frequency response of a circuit, consisting of a plot of the amplitude and phase as a function of frequency.
Branch: a section of a circuit between two nodes or junctions.
Building automation systems (BAS): systems that automate the control of building systems, such as lighting, heating, ventilation, and security.
Building automation: the use of technology to control and automate the systems in a building, such as lighting, heating, ventilation, and security.
Building Commissioning: A process of verifying and documenting that the building systems are designed, installed, functionally tested and capable of being operated and maintained according to the owner’s operational needs.
Building energy management system (BEMS): a system that monitors and controls the energy consumption of a building, through the use of sensors, metering devices, and control algorithms.
Building envelope: the physical boundary of a building that separates the interior from the exterior, including the roof, walls, and foundation.
Building Information Modeling (BIM): the use of digital tools and models to manage and analyze the data of a building throughout its lifecycle, from design to operation.
Building management systems (BMS): systems that monitor and control building systems, such as lighting, heating, ventilation, and security.
Building Performance Simulation (BPS): the use of computer models to simulate the energy consumption of a building or facility, and identify opportunities for energy savings.
Bullet Point List All Kirchhoff’s Current Law: Terminology and Related Definitions.
Capacitance: the property of a circuit that stores electrical energy in an electric field, measured in farads (F).
Carbon capture and storage (CCS): the capture of carbon dioxide from power plants and other industrial sources, and its storage in underground reservoirs, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon credit: a financial instrument that represents a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which can be bought and sold on carbon markets.
Carbon footprint: the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere as a result of human activities, including the
Carbon footprint: the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere as a result of human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Carbon offset: a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, achieved through the implementation of a project or program, that compensates for emissions from another source.
Carbon tax: a tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels, to discourage their use and encourage the use of renewable energy.
Carbon trading: the buying and selling of carbon credits on carbon markets.
Circuit analysis: a method to find the voltages and currents in a circuit, by solving the equations of Kirchoff’s laws.
Circuit design: the process of creating an electrical circuit, including the selection and arrangement of circuit elements, and the optimization of circuit performance.
Circuit element: a basic component in an electrical circuit, such as a resistor, capacitor, or inductor.
Circuit layout: the physical arrangement of the circuit elements and interconnections in an electrical circuit, including the routing of wires and the placement of components.
Circuit model: a mathematical representation of a circuit element, describing its behavior in terms of its input-output relationships.
Circuit optimization: the process of adjusting the parameters of a circuit to achieve a desired performance, using optimization algorithms such as gradient descent or particle swarm optimization.
Circuit protection: the use of protective devices to protect a circuit or system from damage.
Circuit Simulator: a software tool that allows to model and simulate the behavior of an electrical circuit, using mathematical models of the circuit elements and solving the equations that describe the circuit’s behavior.
Circuit topology: the arrangement of the circuit elements in an electrical circuit, such as series or parallel.
Circuit: a closed loop of conductive material, through which electric current can flow.
Closed loop: a path in a circuit that starts and ends at the same point, and passes through all other points in the circuit exactly once.
Combined heat and power (CHP): the simultaneous generation of electricity and heat from a single source, such as a gas turbine or fuel cell.
Conductance: the reciprocal of resistance, measured in siemens (S).
Conservation of charge: the principle that the total charge in a closed system remains constant.
Current: the flow of electric charge in a circuit. Measured in amperes (A).
Demand response: a program that encourages customers to reduce their energy consumption during periods of high demand, through the use of incentives, pricing, and control signals.
Demand response: a program that incentivizes or requires consumers to reduce their energy consumption during peak demand periods.
Demand-side management (DSM): the management of energy consumption on the demand side, through the use of incentives, programs, and technologies to reduce peak demand and improve energy efficiency.
Dependent source: a circuit element whose output current or voltage depends on the circuit’s other variables.
Digital circuit design: the design of circuits that operate with discrete signals, such as binary data.
Distributed energy resources (DER): small-scale energy generation and storage resources that are distributed throughout the grid, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems.
Distributed energy resources (DERs): small-scale energy generation and storage resources that are distributed throughout the grid, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems.
Distributed generation: the generation of electricity from multiple small-scale sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, located close to the point of consumption.
Distributed generation: the generation of electricity from multiple small-scale sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and microturbines, located close to the point of consumption.
Earthing: the practice of connecting a circuit or system to the earth, to ensure safety and proper functioning.
Electric arc: a discharge of electricity through a gas, resulting in an intense light and heat.
Electric charge: a property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electric field.
Electric circuit analysis: the process of determining the voltage, current, and power in an electrical circuit.
Electric circuit: a closed loop of conductive material through which electric current can flow.
Electric current: the flow of electric charge through a circuit.
Electric drive: the application of power electronics to the control of electric drives, including AC drives and DC drives.
Electric field intensity: the force experienced by a unit charge in an electric field.
Electric field: a physical field that exerts a force on charged particles, created by voltage.
Electric grid: the infrastructure that delivers electricity from power plants to consumers, including transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks.
Electric potential difference: the work done per unit charge in moving a charge from one point to another in an electric field.
Electric potential energy: the energy stored in an electric field due to the position of charges.
Electric power distribution: the final transfer of electrical power from substations to consumers.
Electric power transmission: the bulk transfer of electrical power from generating stations to substations and distribution networks.
Electric power: the rate at which electric energy is transferred, measured in watts (W).
Electric power: the rate at which energy is transferred in an electric circuit.
Electric resistance: the opposition to current flow in a circuit.
Electric shock: the physiological effect of electric current passing through the body, which can cause injury or death.
Electric vehicle charging stations: the infrastructure that supplies electricity to electric vehicles, to recharge their batteries.
Electric vehicle power electronics: the application of power electronics to the conversion and control of power for electric vehicles, including battery management and charging systems.
Electric vehicles (EVs): vehicles that are powered by electricity, instead of gasoline or diesel.
Electrical safety: the measures taken to ensure the safe operation of electrical systems and to protect people and property from electrical hazards.
Electromotive force (EMF): the electrical energy per unit charge that drives current through a circuit.
EMI/EMC: Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) are the study of disturbances in an electrical system caused by external electromagnetic fields, and the design of systems to minimize these disturbances.
Energy analytics: the use of data analysis and modeling to optimize energy consumption and improve energy efficiency.
Energy audit: the process of evaluating the energy efficiency of a building or facility, including the measurement of energy consumption, identification of energy-saving opportunities, and recommendation for energy-saving measures.
Energy audit: the process of identifying and measuring the energy consumption of a building or facility, and identifying opportunities for energy savings.
Energy benchmarking: the practice of measuring and comparing the energy performance of buildings or facilities, to identify opportunities for energy savings.
Energy certification: the process of certifying that a building or facility meets certain energy efficiency standards, such as LEED, BREEAM, or Energy Star.
Energy conservation area (ECA): a designated area where specific energy conservation measures are implemented to reduce energy consumption.
Energy conservation bylaws: laws and regulations that mandate the implementation of energy conservation measures in buildings and facilities.
Energy conservation code: a set of standards and guidelines for the energy efficiency of buildings and facilities.
Energy conservation program: a program that includes a set of strategies, policies, and actions to reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities.
Energy conservation rebate programs: programs that offer rebates to customers who invest in energy-efficient products and systems.
Energy conservation: the reduction of energy consumption through changes in behavior and the use of more efficient technology.
Energy efficiency as a Service (EEaaS): a business model where a company provides energy-efficient products or services, such as lighting upgrades or HVAC maintenance, and the customer pays for the energy savings generated.
Energy efficiency financing: the financing of energy-efficient projects or products through mechanisms such as loans, leases, or power purchase agreements.
Energy efficiency incentives: financial incentives, such as tax credits, grants, and rebates, offered to encourage energy efficiency and conservation.
Energy efficiency labeling: the practice of labeling products with their energy efficiency rating, to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.
Energy efficiency: the use of less energy to perform the same task, through the use of more efficient technology and practices.
Energy harvesting: the process of collecting and storing energy from ambient sources, such as light, heat, and vibrations, for later use.
Energy Management Information System (EMIS): A system that allows to collect, store, process, and analyze energy consumption data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for energy savings.
Energy management plan: a plan that outlines the strategies, policies, and actions to be taken to manage the energy consumption of a building or facility.
Energy management software: software that allows to monitor and control the energy consumption of a building or facility, through the use of sensors, metering devices, and control algorithms.
Energy management system (EMS): a system that monitors and controls the energy consumption of a building or facility, through the use of sensors, metering devices, and control algorithms.
Energy management: the process of monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the use of energy in a building or facility.
Energy modeling software: software that allows to simulate the energy consumption of a building or facility
Energy modeling: the use of computer models to simulate the energy consumption of a building or facility, and identify opportunities for energy savings.
Energy modeling: the use of computer simulations to predict the energy consumption of a building or system, and identify opportunities for energy savings.
Energy monitoring: the process of measuring and tracking energy consumption, to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities for energy savings.
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC): a financing mechanism where an energy service company (ESCO) is contracted to implement energy-efficient measures in a building or facility, and the savings generated are used to repay the investment.
Energy procurement: the process of acquiring energy from various sources, such as electricity from the grid, renewable energy, or energy storage systems.
Energy reduction targets: the goals set to reduce energy consumption, through the implementation of energy-efficient technologies, practices, and policies.
Energy savings performance contract (ESPC): a type of performance contract that allows a facility to implement energy-efficient measures without upfront costs, by using the savings generated by the measures to pay for the project over time.
Energy Service Company (ESCO): a company that specializes in the implementation of energy-efficient measures in buildings or facilities and provides energy-efficient services.
Energy service company (ESCO): a company that specializes in the implementation of energy-efficient measures in buildings or facilities, and provides energy-efficient services.
Energy services: the services provided by energy service companies (ESCOs) to improve the energy efficiency of buildings or facilities.
Energy simulation: the use of computer models to simulate the energy consumption of a building or facility, and identify opportunities for energy savings.
Energy Star: a rating system developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that certifies products and buildings that meet high standards of energy efficiency.
Energy storage capacity: the amount of energy that can be stored in an energy storage system.
Energy storage system (ESS): A system that stores energy for later use, using devices such as batteries, flywheels, and supercapacitors.
Energy storage systems (ESS): a system that stores energy for later use, using devices such as batteries, flywheels, and supercapacitors.
Energy storage systems: the technology and equipment used to store energy, such as batteries, flywheels, and thermal storage.
Energy storage: the application of power electronics to the storage and management of electrical energy, including batteries and supercapacitors.
Energy storage: the storage of electrical energy for later use, using devices such as batteries, flywheels, and supercapacitors.
Energy tariff: the rate at which a utility company charges for electricity, which can vary depending on factors such as time of day, season, and demand.
Energy-efficient appliances: appliances that consume less energy than standard appliances, through the use of advanced technologies and design.
Energy-efficient building design: the design of buildings to minimize energy consumption, through the use of energy-efficient technologies, materials, and systems.
Energy-efficient buildings: buildings that consume less energy than standard buildings, through the use of energy-efficient technologies, materials, and systems.
Energy-efficient design: the process of designing buildings, products, and systems that consume less energy and reduce environmental impact.
Energy-efficient financing programs: programs that offer financing options, such as loans and leases, to customers who invest in energy-efficient products and systems.
Energy-efficient HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems: systems that provide heating, cooling, and ventilation to a building or facility and are designed to consume less energy.
Energy-efficient incentives for commercial and industrial sector: Incentives for commercial and industrial sectors to invest in energy-efficient technologies and practices to reduce energy consumption.
Energy-efficient incentives for residential sector: Incentives for residential customers to invest in energy-efficient technologies and practices to reduce energy consumption.
Energy-efficient lighting: the use of energy-efficient lighting technologies, such as LED and CFL, to reduce energy consumption and improve lighting quality.
Energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs): mortgages that provide favorable terms for energy-efficient homes.
Energy-efficient products labeling: the labeling of products with their energy consumption and efficiency information, to help customers make informed choices.
Energy-efficient products: products that consume less energy than standard products, through the use of advanced technologies and design.
Energy-efficient retrofit: the process of upgrading a building or facility to make it more energy-efficient.
Energy-efficient technologies: the use of advanced technologies and products that consume less energy and reduce environmental impact.
Energy-efficient transportation: the use of energy-efficient vehicles and transportation systems, such as electric cars and public transportation, to reduce energy consumption.
ESD: Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is the sudden flow of electricity between two objects caused by contact or proximity, which can damage electronic devices.
Feed-in tariff (FIT): a policy that provides financial incentives for the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources.
Flow battery: a type of battery that stores energy in a liquid electrolyte, which allows for a high energy density and long cycle life.
Flywheel energy storage system (FESS): An energy storage system that uses flywheels to store energy.
Flywheel energy storage systems (FESS): a system that stores energy using flywheels.
Fourier series: a mathematical technique used to analyze periodic signals, which allows to express a signal as a sum of sine and cosine functions.
Frequency response: the relationship between the input and output of a circuit with respect to frequency.
Green building certifications: certifications that recognize buildings that meet high standards of energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality, such as LEED, BREEAM, and Green Star.
Green building: a building that is designed, constructed, and operated to minimize its environmental impact, through the use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems.
Green building: a building that is designed, constructed, and operated to minimize its environmental impact, through the use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems.
Green roof: a roof that is covered with vegetation, to improve the energy efficiency of a building and reduce the urban heat island effect.
Greywater: wastewater from sinks, showers, and washing machines that can be reused for irrigation and other non-potable uses.
Grid connected systems: systems that are connected to the electric grid and can supply power to the grid or draw power from the grid as needed.
Grid-tied energy storage system: An energy storage system that is connected to the grid, allowing for the flow of energy between the grid and the storage system.
Grid-tied energy storage systems: energy storage systems that are connected to the grid, allowing for the storage and distribution of energy.
Ground fault: an unintended electrical connection between a conductor and the ground.
Ground loop: a current flowing through multiple ground connections in a circuit, caused by differences in potential between the ground points.
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI): a device that can quickly detect and interrupt a ground fault, to protect people from electric shock.
Grounding: the connection of a circuit or system to the earth, for safety and electrical performance.
Harmonics: the presence of non-sinusoidal waveforms in an AC circuit, caused by non-linear loads.
Home automation: the use of technology to control and automate the systems in a home, such as lighting, heating, and security.
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems: systems that provide heating, cooling, and ventilation to a building or facility, and are a major contributor to energy consumption.
Hybrid energy storage system (HESS): An energy storage system that combines different energy storage technologies, such as batteries and flywheels, to achieve optimal performance.
Hybrid energy storage systems (HESS): a system that combines different energy storage technologies, such as batteries and flywheels, to achieve optimal performance.
Ideal model: a simplified model of a circuit element that ignores non-ideal effects such as resistance, leakage, and finite accuracy.
Impedance: the total opposition to current flow in an AC circuit, measured in ohms (Ω).
Independent source: a circuit element whose output current or voltage is not dependent on the circuit’s other variables.
Inductance: the property of a circuit that opposes changes in current, measured in henries (H).
Internet of Things (IoT): the network of physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and connectivity which enables these objects to connect and exchange data.
Interval metering: the use of meters that measure energy consumption at regular intervals, such as every 15 minutes, to provide more detailed consumption data.
Inverter: a circuit that converts DC power to AC power.
Junction: a point in an electrical circuit where three or more branches meet.
KCL Terminology And Definitions
Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL): states that the total current entering a junction in a circuit must equal the total current leaving that junction.
Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL): states that the sum of the voltage drops around any closed loop in a circuit is equal to the total voltage applied to that loop.
Laplace transform: a mathematical technique used to analyze linear time-invariant systems, which allows to convert a circuit’s differential equations into algebraic equations and thus simplify the analysis.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): a certification program that recognizes buildings and facilities that meet high standards of energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality.
Lightning protection: the measures taken to protect a structure and its occupants from the effects of lightning strikes.
Linear circuit: a circuit in which all the components and their interconnections obey linear relationships between the input and output quantities.
Lithium-ion battery: a type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions as the main component of the electrolyte.
Loop: a closed path in a circuit that starts and ends at the same point.
LTSpice: a free version of SPICE, developed by Linear Technology Corporation.
Magnetic field: a physical field that exerts a force on moving charged particles, created by current.
Mesh: a loop in a circuit that does not pass through any other loop.
Microcontroller: a computer-on-a-chip that contains a microprocessor, memory, and input/output interfaces, and is used to control electronic devices.
Microgeneration: the generation of electricity from small-scale sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and microturbines.
Microgrid: a local energy system that can operate independently or connected to the main grid, and includes sources of generation, energy storage, and load management.
Microgrid: a small-scale version of the power grid, that can operate independently or in connection with the main grid.
Motor control: the application of power electronics to the control of electric motors, including speed control and torque control.
Net metering: a policy that allows consumers with solar panels or other distributed generation systems to sell excess energy back to the grid.
Net metering: a program that allows consumers with solar panels or other distributed generation systems to sell excess energy back to the grid.
Net zero energy: a building or facility that generates as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis, through the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies.
Net-metering: a system that allows customers with their own renewable energy systems to feed excess energy back to the grid, and receive credit for it.
Node: a point in an electrical circuit where two or more branches meet.
Nonlinear circuit: a circuit in which one or more of the components or their interconnections do not obey linear relationships between the input and output quantities.
Norton’s theorem: states that any linear circuit can be reduced to an equivalent circuit with a single current source and parallel impedance, seen by the load.
Off-grid energy storage system: An energy storage system that is not connected to the grid, and is typically used to provide backup power in remote or isolated locations.
Off-grid energy storage systems: energy storage systems that are not connected to the grid, allowing for the storage and use of energy in remote or isolated locations.
Ohm’s Law: states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.
Open circuit: a condition where a circuit or component is not complete, causing a lack of current flow.
Overload: a condition where a circuit or component is carrying a current greater than its rated capacity.
Parallel circuit: a circuit in which the components are connected side by side, so the voltage across each component is the same.
Passive House: a standard of building design that focuses on energy efficiency and air tightness, to minimize heating and cooling needs.
Passive solar design: the design of buildings to maximize the use of natural light and heat, to reduce energy consumption.
Path: a route through a circuit, defined by the order of the components traversed.
PCB design: the process of creating a printed circuit board, including the layout of the circuit, the selection of materials and components, and the fabrication process.
Phase: the relative timing of two waveforms, measured in degrees or radians.
Power electronics circuit: a circuit that performs functions such as rectification, inversion, and regulation of electrical power.
Power electronics: the application of solid-state electronics to the control and conversion of electrical power.
Power factor: the ratio of real power to apparent power in an AC circuit, indicating the amount of power that is being used effectively.
Power generation forecasting: the prediction of power generation from renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to optimize grid management.
Power grid: the infrastructure that supplies electricity to consumers, including power plants, transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks.
Power purchase agreement (PPA): a contract between a power producer and a power purchaser, where the power producer agrees to sell electricity to the power purchaser at a fixed price over a certain period of time.
Power quality: the level of performance of an electrical system, including factors such as voltage, current, frequency, and waveform.
Power semiconductors: electronic devices that are used to switch and control electrical power in power electronic circuits, such as diodes, transistors, and thyristors.
Protective devices: devices such as fuses and circuit breakers that are used to protect a circuit or system from damage due to overcurrents, overvoltages, and other abnormal conditions.
PSpice: a commercial version of SPICE, developed by Cadence Design Systems.
Rainwater harvesting: the collection of rainwater for later use, such as irrigation and toilet flushing.
Reactance: the opposition to current flow in an AC circuit due to inductance or capacitance, measured in ohms (Ω).
Realistic model: a model of a circuit element that takes into account non-ideal effects such as resistance, leakage, and finite accuracy.
Rectifier: a circuit that converts AC power to DC power.
Regulator: a circuit that maintains a constant output voltage or current, despite variations in input voltage or load.
Renewable energy certificate (REC): a certificate that represents the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy: energy derived from natural resources that are replenished over time, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro power.
Renewable energy: energy that is generated from natural resources that are replenished over time, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass.
Renewable portfolio standard (RPS): a policy that requires a certain percentage of electricity to be generated from renewable energy sources.
Residual current device (RCD): a device that can quickly detect and interrupt an imbalance in the current flowing in a circuit, to protect people from electric shock.
Resistance: the opposition to current flow in a circuit, measured in ohms (Ω).
Series circuit: a circuit in which the components are connected one after the other, so the current through each component is the same.
Short circuit: an unintended electrical connection between two conductors, causing a high current flow.
Smart cities: the use of technology and data analysis to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and livability of cities.
Smart energy: the use of advanced technology to improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of the energy system.
Smart Grid Automation: the use of advanced technology to automate the monitoring, control, and management of the power grid.
Smart grid communication: the use of advanced communication technology, such as wireless networks and the Internet, to enable the monitoring and control of the power grid.
Smart Grid Cyber Security: Measures to protect the smart grid infrastructure and communication networks from cyber threats such as hacking, unauthorized access, and malware.
Smart grid cybersecurity: measures to protect the smart grid infrastructure and communication networks from cyber threats such as hacking, unauthorized access, and malware.
Smart grid infrastructure: the physical components of the smart grid, such as sensors, meters, and communication networks.
Smart grid integration: the integration of advanced technology into the power grid, to improve its efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness to changes in demand.
Smart grid: a modernized power grid that uses advanced technology to improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of the energy system.
Smart grid: the application of advanced technology to the power grid, to improve its efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness to changes in demand.
Smart grid: the application of power electronics, computer technology, and communications to the electric grid, to improve its efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness to changes in demand.
Smart grid: the integration of advanced technology into the power grid, to improve its efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness to changes in demand.
Smart home: a home equipped with technology to control and automate its systems, such as lighting, heating, and security, and also allows remote monitoring and control through internet connectivity.
Smart meter: an advanced meter that can communicate with the utility company to provide real-time energy consumption data and allow for more accurate billing and demand response.
Smart metering: the use of advanced metering technology, such as smart meters, to provide real-time energy consumption data and allow for more accurate billing and demand response.
Solar power electronics: the application of power electronics to the conversion and control of power from solar cells.
SPICE: a popular circuit simulator software, widely used in academia and industry for circuit analysis and design.
Stand-alone systems: systems that are not connected to the electric grid and must generate their own power.
Steady-state response: the response of a circuit to a constant input, when all transient effects have disappeared.
Supercapacitor energy storage system (SESS): An energy storage system that uses supercapacitors to store energy.
Supercapacitor energy storage systems (SESS): a system that stores energy using supercapacitors.
Superposition principle: states that in a linear circuit containing more than one independent source, the response (voltage or current) in any branch is the sum of the responses caused by each independent source acting alone.
Surge protection: the measures taken to protect a circuit or system from voltage transients, such as lightning strikes and power outages.
Switching power supply: a type of power electronic circuit that uses switching devices to convert electrical power, resulting in high efficiency and small size.
Thermal energy storage: The storage of heat or cold energy for later use, through the use of materials such as water, ice, or phase-change materials.
Thevenin’s theorem: states that any linear circuit can be reduced to an equivalent circuit with a single voltage source and series impedance, seen by the load.
Time-of-use (TOU) pricing: a pricing structure that charges different rates for electricity depending on the time of day or week, to reflect the varying costs of generation and distribution.
Transient response: the response of a circuit to a sudden change in input, also known as the impulse response.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS): a device that provides backup power to a circuit or system, in case of an outage.
Virtual power plant (VPP): a network of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and energy storage systems, that can be controlled and managed as a single entity.
Voltage drop: the difference in voltage between two points in a circuit.
Voltage: the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit. Measured in volts (V).
Zero energy building: a building that generates as much energy as it consumes, through the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies.
Zero net energy: a building or facility that generates as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis, through the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies.
