SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR SOLAR PV
Enumerate the three technologies used in harvesting energy from the sun.
● The three technologies used in harvesting energy from the sun are:
● Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC)
● Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
● Photovoltaics (PV)<c>Solar energy technologies include SHC, CSP, and
PV</c>.
Enumerate the 4 classifications of CSP.
● The four classifications of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) are:
● Parabolic trough collector
● Parabolic dish collector
● Linear Fresnel collector
● Solar power tower<c>Classification of CSP can be roughly represented as
parabolic trough collector, parabolic dish collector, linear Fresnel
collector, and solar power tower</c>.
The word "photovoltaic" means.
● The term "photovoltaic" refers to the conversion of light (photo) into
electricity (volts)<c>the word "photovoltaic" means converting light
(photo) into energy (volts)</c>.
What are the two types of crystalline PV modules?
● The two types of crystalline PV modules are:
● Monocrystalline
● Polycrystalline<c>the two types of crystalline PV module are
monocrystalline and polycrystalline</c>.
Give five advantages of using solar PV energy.
● Five advantages of using solar PV energy include:
● Clean energy
● Sustainable energy source
● Noise-free technology
● Low maintenance technology
● Performance warranty over operating lifespan<c>Advantages of solar PV
technology include clean energy, sustainable energy source, noise-free
technology, low maintenance technology, and performance warranty
over operating lifespan</c>.
Give four challenges encountered in using solar PV energy.
● Four challenges associated with solar PV energy are:
● High initial and recycling cost
● Unreliable and fluctuating energy
● The necessity for energy storage
● Toxicity and disposal issues<c>Challenges associated with solar PV include
high initial and recycling cost, unreliable and fluctuating energy, the
necessity for energy storage, and toxicity and disposal issues</c>.
Who discovered the photoelectric effect?
● The photoelectric effect was discovered by Alexandre Edmond
Becquerel<c>the photoelectric effect was discovered by Alexandre
Edmond Becquerel</c>.
In what year was the photoelectric effect discovered?
● The photoelectric effect was discovered in 1839<c>the photoelectric
effect was discovered in 1839</c>.
NREL stands for.
● NREL stands for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory<c>NREL
stands for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory</c>.
LCOE stands for.
● LCOE stands for Levelized Cost of Electricity<c>LCOE stands for Levelized
Cost of Electricity</c>.
IRENA stands for.
● IRENA stands for the International Renewable Energy Agency<c>IRENA
stands for the International Renewable Energy Agency</c>.
Give the definition of LCOE in 1 sentence.
● LCOE is a measure that calculates the average net expense of the unit of
electricity (usually kWh) for any power-generating plant over its expected
lifetime<c>LCOE calculates the average net expense of the unit of
electricity (usually kWh) for any power-generating plant over its expected
lifetime</c>.
What is the maximum theoretical efficiency of a single-junction cell?
● The maximum theoretical efficiency of a single-junction cell is
33.5%<c>the maximum theoretical efficiency of a single-junction cell is
33.5%</c>.
(True or False). The efficiency of a module is always greater than the efficiency
of the cell.
● False<c>the efficiency of a module is not always greater than the
efficiency of the cell</c>.
Define what a conductor is.
● A conductor is a material that allows the flow of electric current due to
the presence of free electrons<c>A conductor is a material that allows
the flow of electric current due to the presence of free electrons</c>.
Define insulator.
● An insulator is a material that resists the flow of electric current, preventing
the movement of free electrons<c>An insulator is a material that resists the
flow of electric current, preventing the movement of free electrons</c>.
Define what n-type semiconductor material is.
● N-type semiconductor material is created by doping silicon with elements
that have more electrons than silicon, such as phosphorus, resulting in an
abundance of free electrons<c>N-type semiconductor material is
created by doping silicon with elements that have more electrons than
silicon, such as phosphorus</c>.
Define what p-type semiconductor material is.
● P-type semiconductor material is formed by doping silicon with elements
that have fewer electrons than silicon, such as boron, creating "holes" that
can carry positive charge<c>P-type semiconductor material is formed by
doping silicon with elements that have fewer electrons than silicon, such
as boron</c>.
Multi-junction cell can have a maximum theoretical efficiency of under
concentrated sunlight.
● Multi-junction cells can achieve efficiencies over 45% under concentrated
sunlight<c>Multi-junction cells can achieve efficiencies over 45% under
concentrated sunlight</c>.
Silicon element accounts for of all the elements on the earth's surface.
● Silicon accounts for approximately 27.7% of all elements on the Earth's
surface<c>Silicon accounts for approximately 27.7% of all elements on the
Earth's surface</c>.
The process used to extract monocrystalline cells from quartz rocks.
● The process used to extract monocrystalline cells from quartz rocks is
known as the Siemens process or the Czochralski process<c>The process
used to extract monocrystalline cells from quartz rocks is known as the
Siemens process or the Czochralski process</c>.
EVA stands for.
● EVA stands for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate<c>EVA stands for Ethylene Vinyl
Acetate</c>.
What is a bi-facial module?
● A bi-facial module is a type of solar panel that can capture sunlight on
both the front and rear sides, increasing energy production by utilizing
reflected light from the ground<c>A bi-facial module is a type of solar
panel that can capture sunlight on both the front and rear sides,
increasing energy production by utilizing reflected light from the
ground</c>.
What is the function of bypass diodes in a solar module?
● Bypass diodes are used in solar modules to prevent overheating and
damage to the cells by allowing current to bypass shaded or
malfunctioning cells, thus maintaining the overall performance of the
module<c>Bypass diodes are used in solar modules to prevent
overheating and damage to the cells by allowing current to bypass
shaded or malfunctioning cells</c>.
Find the rated module power of a 2.2m by 1.1m module with an efficiency of
21.5%. Assume 1000W/m² irradiance at STC.
● The rated module power can be calculated using the formula: \[
\text{Power} = \text{Area} \times \text{Irradiance} \times
\text{Efficiency} \] \[ \text{Power} = (2.2 \, \text{m} \times 1.1 \, \text{m})
\times 1000 \, \text{W/m}^2 \times 0.215 = 473 \, \text{W} \] Therefore,
the rated module power is approximately 473 W<c>The rated module
power is approximately 473 W</c>.