Solar Policy, Economics, and Sustainability Flashcards

Across their life cycle, how do the greenhouse gas emissions of crystalline silicon PV typically compare with coal generation?

Answer: Roughly 20-50 gCO2e/kWh versus about 800-1,000 gCO2e/kWh

Harmonized LCAs, such as NREL's, put c-Si PV at tens of grams per kWh, compared with roughly 1,000 for coal.

Which part of a crystalline silicon module makes up the largest share of its mass and is the main material recovered in recycling?

Answer: Glass

Glass makes up about 70-75% of a c-Si module's weight.

Some PV modules that fail toxicity testing may be managed as hazardous waste in the U.S. under which federal law?

Answer: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

RCRA governs hazardous waste, and modules that fail TCLP testing for metals like lead or cadmium fall under it.

Which U.S. law creates a presumption that goods made wholly or partly in Xinjiang were made with forced labor, which affects polysilicon supply chains?

Answer: Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)

UFLPA lets CBP detain solar imports unless importers can show their supply chains are free of forced labor.

Which IEEE standard sets interconnection and interoperability requirements for distributed energy resources such as PV inverters?

Answer: IEEE 1547

IEEE 1547-2018 covers DER interconnection, including ride-through and voltage/frequency support.

How does a feed-in tariff (FIT) mainly differ from net metering?

Answer: A FIT pays a set, often premium rate for every kWh generated under a long-term contract

FITs guarantee a set price per kWh of generation, while net metering offsets consumption at the retail rate.

Which choice most directly lowers the land-use impact of a utility-scale solar farm while supporting biodiversity?

Answer: Agrivoltaics or native pollinator-friendly ground cover under the arrays

Dual-use and pollinator-habitat designs keep the land productive and improve soil and habitat.