SHI Site Assessment & Solar Resource Evaluation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary factor evaluated during a solar site assessment to determine energy production potential?
- Wind speed patterns
- Solar radiation availability (insolation) (Correct answer)
- Proximity to the electrical grid
- Annual rainfall totals
Correct answer: Solar radiation availability (insolation)
Solar radiation availability (insolation) is the primary determinant of how much energy a solar thermal system can collect at a given location.
Question 2: Which compass direction should solar thermal collectors ideally face in the Northern Hemisphere to maximize energy collection?
- North
- East
- South (Correct answer)
- West
Correct answer: South
South-facing collectors in the Northern Hemisphere receive maximum solar radiation throughout the day and across all seasons.
Question 3: Which tool is commonly used to identify and quantify shading obstructions during a solar site assessment?
- Multimeter
- Manometer
- Solar Pathfinder (Correct answer)
- Anemometer
Correct answer: Solar Pathfinder
A Solar Pathfinder uses a sun path diagram overlay to identify shading obstructions that will impact collector performance throughout the year.
Question 4: What is 'solar insolation' as used in solar thermal site assessments?
- The temperature of solar radiation at a given location
- The amount of solar radiation energy received on a surface over a period of time (Correct answer)
- The angle at which sunlight strikes a collector surface
- The ratio of direct to diffuse solar radiation
Correct answer: The amount of solar radiation energy received on a surface over a period of time
Solar insolation measures the amount of solar radiation energy received per unit area over a specified time period, typically expressed in kWh/m²/day.
Question 5: What tilt angle (from horizontal) is generally recommended as a starting point for fixed solar thermal collectors in most of the continental US?
- 0° (flat)
- Equal to the local latitude (Correct answer)
- 45° fixed for all locations
- 90° (vertical)
Correct answer: Equal to the local latitude
A tilt angle equal to the local latitude is generally recommended as a starting point for year-round optimization of fixed solar thermal collectors.
Question 6: Which of the following factors does NOT typically affect the available solar resource at an installation site?
- Local cloud cover patterns
- Atmospheric aerosol content
- Magnetic declination of the site (Correct answer)
- Altitude above sea level
Correct answer: Magnetic declination of the site
Magnetic declination affects compass readings but does not affect the amount of solar radiation reaching a site; cloud cover, aerosols, and altitude all influence available solar energy.
Question 7: What does a 'peak sun hour' represent in solar resource evaluation?
- The hour of the day when the sun is at its highest point
- The total daily solar insolation equivalent to 1,000 W/m² for one hour (Correct answer)
- The number of hours per day with direct sunlight only
- The period between sunrise and solar noon
Correct answer: The total daily solar insolation equivalent to 1,000 W/m² for one hour
A peak sun hour represents the equivalent of one hour of solar irradiance at 1,000 W/m², used to standardize solar resource data across locations for system sizing.
SHI Site Assessment & Solar Resource Evaluation 1
What is the primary factor evaluated during a solar site assessment to determine energy production potential?