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Renewable Energy and Cogeneration Flashcards

6 cards from real CEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Renewable Energy and Cogeneration flashcards as text

  1. A fuel cell generates electricity through:

    Answer: Electrochemical reaction of fuel and oxidant without combustion, producing electricity and heat

    Fuel cells convert chemical energy directly to electricity via electrochemical reactions (no combustion), achieving higher efficiencies (40-60%) and producing heat as a recoverable byproduct.

  2. The overall efficiency of a CHP system is calculated as:

    Answer: (Electrical output + recovered heat output) divided by total fuel input

    CHP overall efficiency counts both useful electrical and thermal outputs, expressing total useful energy recovered as a fraction of fuel consumed.

  3. Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for a renewable project is useful because it:

    Answer: Expresses the average cost per kWh over the project lifetime, enabling comparison with utility rates

    LCOE normalizes all project costs (capital, O&M, financing) over lifetime energy production, providing a comparable cost-per-kWh metric for evaluating against utility rates or alternative generation.

  4. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar energy systems in the US allows eligible projects to:

    Answer: Claim a percentage of the installation cost as a direct federal income tax credit

    The ITC allows commercial and residential solar owners to claim a percentage of the total system cost (currently 30% under the Inflation Reduction Act) as a direct federal tax credit.

  5. In a PV system, the maximum power point tracker (MPPT) in the inverter serves to:

    Answer: Continuously adjust operating voltage to extract maximum power from panels under varying conditions

    MPPT algorithms dynamically adjust the DC operating point of the PV array to continuously operate at the voltage/current combination yielding maximum power as irradiance and temperature change.

  6. Interconnection requirements for distributed generation systems are primarily managed by:

    Answer: The local electric utility or grid operator under IEEE 1547 and state-specific interconnection standards

    Utilities manage interconnection under IEEE 1547 (Standard for Interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources) and state commission-approved tariffs, requiring technical review and protective relaying.