Renewable Energy Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real HERS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Renewable Energy Systems flashcards as text
Which solar panel configuration allows individual panels to operate independently, minimizing the impact of shading on the overall system output?
Answer: Microinverter or DC optimizer configuration
Microinverters and DC optimizers allow each panel to operate at its maximum power point independently, so shading on one panel does not drag down the entire string.
In a grid-tied solar PV system, what happens to electricity production during a utility grid outage without battery backup?
Answer: The system shuts down to prevent islanding hazards
Grid-tied inverters are required by code to shut down during grid outages to prevent islanding, which could endanger utility workers.
What is the primary purpose of a solar site assessment tool like a Solar Pathfinder or Solmetric SunEye?
Answer: Evaluating shading impacts and solar access at a specific location
These tools map the sun's path and identify obstructions that cast shadows, allowing raters to quantify solar access and expected energy production.
According to RESNET standards, what solar production data source is commonly used to model PV output in energy rating software?
Answer: TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) weather data
TMY data provides hourly weather data representative of long-term average conditions and is the standard input for solar energy production modeling.
When calculating the HERS Index for a home with a solar PV system, how is on-site renewable generation typically credited?
Answer: It offsets site energy use, reducing the HERS score
Under RESNET standards, PV generation offsets the home's site energy consumption and is credited when calculating the HERS Index.
What does the term 'tilt angle' refer to in a solar PV installation?
Answer: The angle between the panel surface and horizontal ground
Tilt angle is measured from horizontal (0° = flat, 90° = vertical) and affects how directly sunlight strikes the panel surface throughout the year.
Which renewable energy system type generates electricity from heat produced by a temperature differential between a fluid and its surroundings?
Answer: Thermoelectric generators
Thermoelectric generators convert heat differentials directly into electricity using the Seebeck effect, unlike PV which uses photons or heat pumps which move heat.