ERAC Renewable Energy Systems & Technologies Flashcards
6 cards from real ERAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ERAC Renewable Energy Systems & Technologies flashcards as text
What does the capacity factor of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system represent?
Answer: The ratio of actual energy output to the maximum possible output over a period
Capacity factor is the ratio of actual energy generated to the maximum energy that could be generated if the system operated at full rated capacity continuously, typically 10–25% for US solar PV.
Which US federal incentive provides a tax credit equal to a percentage of the cost of installing solar, wind, and other eligible renewable energy systems?
Answer: Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code allows businesses to deduct a percentage of the cost of eligible renewable energy systems from federal taxes.
In a wind energy assessment, what is the significance of the 'Weibull distribution'?
Answer: It statistically describes the frequency distribution of wind speeds at a site
The Weibull distribution is a statistical model used to characterize wind speed variability at a site, which is essential for accurately estimating annual energy production from wind turbines.
What is 'net metering' in the context of on-site renewable energy?
Answer: A billing arrangement allowing excess renewable energy to be exported to the grid in exchange for credits
Net metering allows facilities with on-site renewable generation to export excess electricity to the utility grid in exchange for credits that offset future consumption charges.
Which metric is most commonly used to evaluate the economic performance of a renewable energy project over its lifetime?
Answer: Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)
Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) represents the average cost per unit of electricity generated over a project's lifetime, accounting for capital costs, operating expenses, and total energy produced.
In a geothermal heat pump system, what is the 'Coefficient of Performance' (COP) measuring?
Answer: The ratio of heating or cooling output to electrical energy input
COP measures efficiency by expressing the ratio of useful thermal energy output (heating or cooling) to the electrical energy consumed by the heat pump compressor.