Resources
Glossary
A shared vocabulary for renewable energy decisions.
The SgurrEnergy glossary defines common renewable energy technical and commercial terms in clear, vendor-neutral language, covering concepts such as LCOE, capacity factor, P50 and P90, bankability, technical due diligence, owner's engineer, grid code, repowering and BESS round-trip efficiency. It helps developers, investors, lenders and asset owners build a shared understanding of the terminology used across wind, solar PV, BESS, hydro and hybrid projects. The glossary is being expanded over time.
Common Renewable Energy Terms
Clear, vendor-neutral definitions of widely used industry concepts.
LCOE (Levelised Cost of Energy)
A measure of the average net present cost of generating a unit of electricity over the lifetime of a project, used to compare the cost-competitiveness of different generation options. It divides total lifecycle costs by total energy produced.
Capacity Factor
The ratio of a plant's actual energy output over a period to the maximum output it could theoretically produce if it ran at full rated capacity the entire time, expressed as a percentage.
P50 / P90
Probability levels used in energy yield estimates. P50 is the central estimate expected to be exceeded 50 percent of the time, while P90 is a more conservative estimate expected to be exceeded 90 percent of the time, often used by lenders to size debt.
Bankability
The degree to which a project's assumptions, contracts, technology and risk profile are considered robust enough for lenders and investors to commit finance with confidence.
Technical Due Diligence
An independent review of the technical aspects of a project or asset, including design, technology, resource, performance, contracts and risks, to inform an investment, acquisition or financing decision.
Owner's Engineer
An independent engineering advisor acting on behalf of the project owner to protect their interests through design review, procurement support, construction monitoring and quality assurance.
Grid Code
The set of technical requirements that generators and other users must meet to connect to and operate on an electricity network, covering aspects such as voltage, frequency, fault ride-through and power quality.
Repowering
Upgrading or replacing equipment at an existing site, such as installing modern, higher-capacity wind turbines, to increase energy output, improve reliability or extend the operating life of the asset.
BESS Round-Trip Efficiency
For a battery energy storage system, the ratio of energy discharged to energy charged over a full cycle, expressed as a percentage. It reflects the losses incurred during charging, storage and discharging.
Need a term we have not covered?
The glossary is being expanded. Register your interest in additional terms, or discuss a specific technical question with our team.