Entry Test Flashcards
Centralized generation
Electricity produced at large power plants and transmitted great distances
Passive Solar
Uses a building’s structural elements to heat and cool and reduce use of fuel and mechanical equip
Solar Thermal
Harness sun’s energy as heat (water heaters)
Flat Plate collectors
Thermal collectors that use parallel copper pipes, absorber and glass box
Evacuated Tube Collectors
Thermal collectors with glass tubes, vacuum, thin copper tube
RPS
Renewable portfolio standards - Minimum % of total generation that a utility company is required to produce
PURPA
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act - Utilities must purchase power from others
Tiered Rate
Allow utility to charge different rates on varying parameters
PBI
Performance based incentives - Financial incentive to generate power
RECs
Renewable Energy Certificates
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement - 15-20 year agreement between producer and purchaser.
Voltage Potential
Difference in pressure between 2 points
SI
International system of units - giga, mega, kilo, micro, nano
Energy
Amount of power consumed or produced over time (KwH)
PV Direct System
Simplest system. Only PV Module and DC Load
Stand Alone System
Off Grid System - Only power source for connected load
Load Controllers
Regulate power from batteries to prevent overdischarge
Hybrid System
More than one source of energy generation
Grid Direct System
Sell directly to Utility Grid. No storage
BIPV
Building Integrated PV - Roofing tiles etc that produces PV energy
I-V Curve
Current Voltage Curve - Graph showing relationship of current and voltage for PV Module
FIT
Feed in tariff - 2 meters - Comsumption/Production
MPP
Maximum Power Point (IMP x VMP)
VOC
Voltage Open Circuit
Pyranometer
Measures intensity of sunlight
PV Output circuits
Parallel circuit - Combiner Box
PV Source circuits
Series wired modules
Solar Azimuth
Sun’s position relative to a defined direction (Angle)
Solar Noon
Sun at highest position
Inclinometer
Measure slope or angle
Solar Window
Time frame when solar system is free of shade
Irradiance
Intensity of sunlight (W/m2) at given moment
Insolation (Irradiation)
Intensity of sunlight over given time
Peak sun hours
Time period when insolation averages 1,000 W/m2
Full sun
Peak sun hour (1,000 W/m2) for one hour
Single axis trackers
Follow sun east to west
Dual axis trackers
Follow sun east to west and azimuth angle
Passive trackers
Non-motorized
Tilt and roll trackers
Motorized trackers that have primary support N-S. The array pivots over the bar E-W during the day
Duty Cycle
Percentage of time that an appliance is active and drawing power
Islanding
When PV system injects power into utility grid when utility grid is down. Dangerous
Microinvertor
Low wattage inverter for one PV Module
String Size
Number of modules per source circuit (Series wired)
Array to inverter ratio
STC watts of array / Inverter continuous power output rating
OSHA Section?
29 CFR Part 1926 (Installation) & 29 CFR Part 1910 (General Industry)
DOD
Depth of discharge. % of battery capacity to be used
Days of Autonomy
Number of days the battery will provide energy without charge
Power Clipping
Solar array has more power than inverter or charge controller can output
SOC
State of charge - Amp hours remaining in battery
Grid Parity
Renewable energy costs the same as utility
Vertical Integration
Make the product a-z and install it.
Upstream Business
Closer to manufacturing
Downstream Business
Closer to installs
EIA
US Energy Information Administration
Utility Tariff
Price per KWH
Seasonal Rate Schedule
Different utility charges per season
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement (Usually 20 years)
