definition
strict definition
photovoltaic area
The total surface area of the photovoltaic panels installed on a structure.
Photovoltaic area is the total surface of the solar panels mounted on a structure, added up across the roof, the facade and any other face that carries them.
It is panel surface, not roof surface. A roof of 2,000 square meters carrying panels on a third of it has a photovoltaic area near 670, and the two figures must never be swapped.
The area alone does not state the output. Yield depends on the cell technology, the orientation and the latitude, so two installations of the same area can generate very different amounts of electricity.
Related definitions
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GIF rental area
The rental floor area measured according to the standards of Gesellschaft für Immobilienwirtschaftliche Forschung. -
area
The total land and water surface belonging to and occupied by an object or geographic entity. -
construction area
The total amount of built floor space occupied by solid structural elements like columns, walls, and doors. -
footprint area
The total surface area occupied, covered, or overhung by a built object, including its projecting elements. -
gross floor area
The total area of all interior spaces within an object, including occupied, common, and utility areas. -
lot area
The total area of the land property associated with a built object, including the area occupied by its footprint. -
minimum rentable area
The smallest division of floor space available for rent or lease within a structure. -
rental area
The cumulative built floor area available for rental or lease, including vacant space and excluding shared common areas. -
total available space
The floor space available to prospective users, including vacant space and occupied space to be vacated. -
total facade area
The total area of all parts of a structure's facade, not counting minor indentations. -
total roof area
The total area of all parts of a structure's roof, including flat and sloping sections. -
usable floor area
The enclosed interior floor area of a built object, excluding the space occupied by fixed walls, columns, and other structural elements. -
window-to-wall ratio
The percentage of a building's facade occupied by transparent or translucent glazing that admits light.