Renewable Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real CPACE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Renewable Systems flashcards as text
A PACE-financed commercial wind project produces energy that exceeds on-site consumption. Under most state net metering rules, excess generation is typically:
Answer: Credited to the owner's utility account at retail or avoided-cost rates
Net metering policies typically credit excess generation to the property owner's utility bill, effectively banking kilowatt-hours against future consumption.
Which document is required to confirm that a PACE-financed solar installation meets the National Electrical Code requirements before utility interconnection?
Answer: Passed electrical permit inspection and certificate of occupancy
A passed electrical inspection and resulting permit sign-off or certificate of occupancy confirms NEC compliance, which the utility typically requires prior to interconnection approval.
Under PACE programs, which characteristic of the assessment structure ensures continuity of the financing obligation when a property is sold?
Answer: PACE assessment runs with the land, transferring to the new owner
PACE assessments are attached to the property, not the individual, so they transfer to the new property owner upon sale unless paid off at closing.
A solar thermal system installed on a commercial hotel is PACE-financed to offset domestic hot water heating. Which system component transfers heat from the solar collectors to the storage tank?
Answer: Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger transfers thermal energy from the solar collector fluid loop to the potable water storage tank without mixing the two fluid streams.
Which PACE project scenario would most likely trigger an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?
Answer: Large ground-mounted solar array on previously undisturbed federal land
Projects on federal land or requiring federal permits that disturb significant acreage may trigger NEPA environmental review due to potential impacts on undisturbed ecosystems.
A PACE program requires an independent third-party review of energy savings projections for projects over $500,000. This review is primarily intended to:
Answer: Validate that projected savings are reasonable and support the financing structure
Independent third-party energy reviews ensure that savings projections are technically credible and sufficient to justify the PACE financing amount.
Which renewable energy system would a PACE underwriter classify as a 'behind-the-meter' installation?
Answer: A rooftop solar system directly powering the building's electrical loads
Behind-the-meter systems are installed on the customer's side of the utility meter and directly offset the building's electricity consumption before any grid interaction.