ERAC Renewable Energy Systems & Technologies Flashcards
6 cards from real ERAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ERAC Renewable Energy Systems & Technologies flashcards as text
What is a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) and what does it certify?
Answer: A tradable certificate representing 1 MWh of electricity generated from a renewable source
A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) is a market-based instrument certifying that 1 megawatt-hour of electricity was generated and delivered to the grid from a qualified renewable energy source.
In solar energy systems, what does 'peak sun hours' represent?
Answer: The equivalent number of hours per day at a solar irradiance of 1,000 W/m²
Peak sun hours represent the equivalent hours per day during which solar irradiance averages 1,000 W/m² (1 kW/m²), used to estimate daily energy production from a PV system.
What is the primary risk factor that an ERAC auditor assesses when evaluating a wind energy project's revenue stability?
Answer: Wind resource variability and associated generation uncertainty (P50/P90 analysis)
Wind resource variability is the primary risk factor; P50/P90 analysis quantifies the probability that annual generation will exceed a given threshold, informing lender and investor risk assessments.
Which type of energy storage technology is most commonly paired with utility-scale renewable energy projects in the US to manage intermittency?
Answer: Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS)
Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) have become the dominant technology for utility-scale renewable energy storage due to their declining costs, scalability, and rapid response capability.
In a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for renewable energy, who typically owns and maintains the generation equipment?
Answer: The renewable energy developer or third-party investor
In a PPA, the renewable energy developer or third-party investor retains ownership of the generation equipment and sells electricity to the customer (offtaker) at a contractually agreed price.
What does 'interconnection' refer to in the context of on-site renewable energy projects?
Answer: The technical and administrative process of connecting a renewable energy system to the utility grid
Interconnection is the process by which a distributed generation system is reviewed, approved, and physically connected to the utility grid, governed by the utility's interconnection tariff and IEEE 1547.