CEM Renewable Energy Systems

Question 1

What is the typical efficiency range of commercial silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar panels under standard test conditions?

Accepted Answer

15–22%

Answer

5–10%

Answer

30–40%

Answer

45–55%

Question 2

Wind turbine power output is proportional to which mathematical relationship with wind speed?

Accepted Answer

Cubic (speed³)

Answer

Linear (speed¹)

Answer

Squared (speed²)

Answer

Logarithmic (ln speed)

Question 3

What does 'capacity factor' mean for a renewable energy system?

Accepted Answer

The ratio of actual energy produced to the maximum possible energy output over a period

Answer

The maximum power output the system can produce

Answer

The percentage of time the system is online and not in maintenance

Answer

The efficiency rating of the inverter under full load

Question 4

What is net metering in the context of a grid-tied solar energy system?

Accepted Answer

A billing arrangement where excess electricity exported to the grid earns credits on the customer's utility bill

Answer

Measuring the net carbon emissions offset by solar panels

Answer

Calculating the net installation cost after available incentives

Answer

The process of measuring cumulative solar panel performance degradation

Question 5

Which renewable energy technology harnesses the Earth's internal heat to generate electricity or provide direct heating?

Accepted Answer

Geothermal

Answer

Solar thermal concentrating

Answer

Biomass combustion

Answer

Tidal barrage

Question 6

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in the United States provides a direct tax credit primarily for which technology?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy system installations

Answer

Energy-efficient commercial lighting upgrades

Answer

Plug-in electric vehicles

Answer

Energy auditing and commissioning services

Question 7

Which unit is used to express solar irradiance, representing the instantaneous power of solar radiation striking a surface?

Accepted Answer

Watts per square meter (W/m²)

Answer

Lumens per square meter (lm/m²)

Answer

Kilowatt-hours per day (kWh/day)

Answer

BTU per hour (BTU/hr)