Engineering English
Balance of System
Energy Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The balance of system comprises all components of a photovoltaic system other than the photovoltaic panels themselves, including wiring, inverters, mounting structures, and monitoring equipment.
Example in context
“The balance of system costs for this rooftop PV installation exceeded the module cost, mainly due to the racking and wiring requirements.”
“Bu çatı üstü PV kurulumunun sistem dengesi maliyetleri, esas olarak raf ve kablolama gereksinimleri nedeniyle modül maliyetini aştı.”
Where engineers use it
The term 'balance of system' is frequently used in cost analysis and system design for photovoltaic projects. Engineers must account for BOS components to accurately estimate total system cost and optimize performance.
Synonyms: BOS
Practice: can you use “Balance of System” at work?
You are designing a 50 kW ground-mounted PV system. The client wants to reduce total installation cost by 15%. Identify which balance of system components could be optimized without sacrificing reliability.
Show a model answer
“The balance of system includes all components except the solar panels themselves.”
“Balance of System” in 21 languages
| English | Balance of System |
|---|---|
| Turkish | sistem dengesi |
| French | balance du système |
| German | Systembilanz |
| Spanish | balance del sistema |
| Chinese | 系统平衡 |
| Arabic | توازن النظام |
| Portuguese | balanço do sistema |
| Russian | баланс системы |
| Japanese | システムバランス |
| Italian | balance del sistema |
| Vietnamese | cân bằng hệ thống |
| Hindi | सिस्टम संतुलन |
| Thai | ความสมดุลของระบบ |
| Indonesian | keseimbangan sistem |
| Korean | 시스템 균형 |
| Bengali | সিস্টেম ব্যালেন্স |
| Dutch | systeembalans |
| Swedish | systembalans |
| Finnish | järjestelmätase |
| Ukrainian | баланс системи |
Frequently asked questions
What does Balance of System mean in engineering?
The balance of system comprises all components of a photovoltaic system other than the photovoltaic panels themselves, including wiring, inverters, mounting structures, and monitoring equipment. In Energy Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Balance of System?
Balance of System is pronounced /ˈbæləns əv ˈsɪstəm/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Balance of System used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The balance of system costs for this rooftop PV installation exceeded the module cost, mainly due to the racking and wiring requirements.”
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