Solar, Wind & Storage Technologies Flashcards
7 cards from real CCP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Solar, Wind & Storage Technologies flashcards as text
What is 'perovskite' in the context of next-generation solar cells?
Answer: A class of crystal-structured materials used as light-absorbing layers in emerging PV cells
Perovskite solar cells use a crystal structure (ABX₃) as the photoactive layer and have rapidly achieved lab efficiencies exceeding 25%, rivaling crystalline silicon.
Which grid service do battery energy storage systems (BESS) provide when they respond to frequency deviations within milliseconds?
Answer: Frequency regulation (Primary Frequency Response)
BESS can inject or absorb power within milliseconds to respond to grid frequency deviations, providing primary frequency regulation faster than any thermal generator.
In a utility-scale solar project, what does 'bifacial gain' refer to?
Answer: Additional power generation from light captured on the rear side of bifacial panels
Bifacial solar panels generate electricity from both front and rear surfaces; the bifacial gain is the additional energy yield from rear-side irradiance, typically 5–30% extra.
What is the primary purpose of 'repowering' an existing wind farm?
Answer: Replacing older turbines with larger, more efficient models to increase energy output
Repowering replaces aging turbines with modern, higher-capacity machines on the same site, often doubling or tripling energy output while using the existing land permits and grid connections.
What does the 'duck curve' illustrate in power grid management?
Answer: The mismatch between daytime solar generation and evening demand peaks
The duck curve (named for its shape) shows how high midday solar generation creates a steep ramp requirement in the evening when solar drops and demand peaks, straining grid operators.
In concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, what material is most commonly used as the thermal energy storage medium?
Answer: Molten salt (sodium-potassium nitrate mixture)
Molten salt (a mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate) is the dominant CSP thermal storage medium, storing heat at 565°C and enabling dispatchable solar generation.
What is the 'capacity factor' of a wind turbine, and what is a typical onshore value?
Answer: Ratio of actual output to rated capacity over time; typically 25–35%
Capacity factor is actual energy generated divided by maximum possible generation at rated capacity over a period; onshore wind typically achieves 25–35%, while offshore wind reaches 40–50%.