NABCEP - Certified North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Specialist Solar Site and Shading Analysis Questions and Answers

Question 1

A solar site assessor in the Northern Hemisphere uses a compass to determine the optimal azimuth for a fixed-tilt PV array.
The compass indicates south at 180 degrees.
However, the local magnetic declination is 12 degrees East.
To what azimuth should the array be oriented to face True South?

Accepted Answer

192 degrees

Answer

168 degrees

Answer

180 degrees

Answer

It is not possible to determine with the information given.

Question 2

A site analysis reveals significant shading on a proposed rooftop array area only during early morning and late afternoon hours in the summer. Which of the following technologies would be most effective at mitigating the energy production losses from this type of shading?

Accepted Answer

Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE) like microinverters or DC optimizers

Answer

A string inverter with a single MPPT

Answer

Bifacial modules on a low-albedo roof

Answer

A larger gauge DC conductor to reduce voltage drop

Question 3

Which of the following metrics provides the most comprehensive assessment of a potential solar site's energy production potential by accounting for both shading and the array's tilt and orientation?

Accepted Answer

Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF)

Answer

Solar Access Value (SAV)

Answer

Tilt and Orientation Factor (TOF)

Answer

Insolation Value

Question 4

When using a Solar Pathfinder to conduct a manual shading analysis, what is the primary purpose of the reflective dome?

Accepted Answer

To provide a panoramic reflection of all shading obstacles on the horizon

Answer

To measure the ambient temperature and its effect on irradiance

Answer

To digitally capture a fisheye photograph of the sky

Answer

To calculate the magnetic declination automatically

Question 5

A client is deciding between a rooftop and a ground-mounted solar array for their property, which has ample unshaded land. From a purely shading and production standpoint, what is a primary advantage of the ground-mounted system?

Accepted Answer

It allows for precise optimization of tilt and azimuth for maximum solar exposure.

Answer

It provides beneficial shading to the building, reducing cooling costs.

Answer

It is less susceptible to shading from nearby trees and buildings.

Answer

It requires less land area than a rooftop installation of the same capacity.

Question 6

In a large, multi-row ground-mounted PV array, what is the term for the shading caused by one row of modules casting a shadow onto the row behind it, especially when the sun is at a low angle?

Accepted Answer

Inter-row shading

Answer

Horizon shading

Answer

Albedo shading

Answer

Soft shading

A solar site assessor in the Northern Hemisphere uses a compass to determine the optimal azimuth for a fixed-tilt PV array.The compass indicates south at 180 degrees.However, the local magnetic declination is 12 degrees East.To what azimuth should the array be oriented to face True South?

A solar site assessor in the Northern Hemisphere uses a compass to determine the optimal azimuth for a fixed-tilt PV array.
The compass indicates south at 180 degrees.
However, the local magnetic declination is 12 degrees East.
To what azimuth should the array be oriented to face True South?