Renewable Energy Engineering Midterm Exam Reviewer Flashcards by Carl Almera

He invented the first solar collector cell, an insulated box with multiple layers of glass that could achieve temperatures exceeding 230 degrees Fahrenheit.

Horace-Benedict de Saussure

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He identified the photovoltaic effect by observing increased energy when light was applied to an electrolytic cell composed of metal electrodes in an electrolyte solution.

Edmund Bacquerel

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He discovered the photoconductive properties of selenium.

Willoughby Smith

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He constructed the first solar cells using selenium wafers.

Charles Fritts

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Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson at Bell Labs developed the first practical silicon photovoltaic cell, achieving approximately __% efficiency.

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_______ satellite utilized a one-watt solar panel to power its radios, marking one of the earliest applications of solar technology in space.

The Vanguard I

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The University of Delaware built “_______,” the first solar-powered building,
integrating both _______ and _______ systems.

Solar One; solar thermal; photovoltaic

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Modern photovoltaic cells have achieved efficiencies exceeding __%, reflecting significant advancements in solar technology.

20%

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Solar energy is one of the most abundant renewable energy sources, with the Earth absorbing an estimated _______ exajoules of solar radiation annually.

3,850,000

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Enumerate the factors affecting the efficiency of solar energy (availability and sources).

Earth’s rotation
Atmospheric conditions
Latitude
Power transmission infrastructure

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It dictates the availability of sunlight throughout the day.

Earth’s rotation

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It determines how much solar energy a location receives over the course of a year.

Latitude

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The region between the _______ and the _______ receives the highest annual solar radiation, making it the most suitable area for large scale solar energy projects.

Tropic of Cancer; Tropic of Capricorn

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It is used primarily in solar thermal-electric
power plants and requires direct sunlight to function efficiently. These systems utilize mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto a small area, generating intense heat that can be converted into electricity.

Concentrating solar collectors

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These are nonmechanical devices that directly convert sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect.

Photovoltaic cells or solar cells

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Explain the mechanism of photovoltaic cells (7 sentences).

How a Photovoltaic Cell Works
1. Sunlight consists of photons with varying energy levels…
2. When photons strike a PV cell, three interactions can occur…
3. Only the absorbed photons contribute to electricity generation…
4. When a PV cell absorbs enough energy, electrons are dislodged from their atomic bonds…
5. The PV cell’s surface is treated to encourage the movement of these free electrons toward the front surface…
6. This imbalance generates a voltage potential, similar to the positive and negative terminals of a battery.
7. Conductors in the PV cell capture and direct this flow of electrons, enabling electricity generation.

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Explain the mechanism of photovoltaic cells (7 sentences).

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A single PV cell typically produces ___ watts of electricity, making it suitable for small applications like calculators and wristwatches.

1-2 watts

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PV cells generate _______ electricity, which can be stored in batteries for devices.

Direct

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Solar PV capacity accounted for __% of total power plant installations globally in 2023.

16.4%

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Of the total global solar PV capacity, __% is in the Philippines.

0.11%

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Enumerate the five active solar PV power plants by capacity in the Philippines and their capacity.

Solar Philippines Concepcion - 150 MW
Cadiz - 132.50 MW
Alaminos - 120 MW
Subic Bay - 100 MW
Ilocos Norte - 83.3 MW

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Renewable-energy technology applications have created >_____ jobs worldwide. The solar PV application came as the pioneer, which created >_____ jobs.

12 million; 3 million

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Enumerate Top 10 countries that created jobs in solar PV applications.

China
Japan
United States
India
Bangladesh
Vietnam
Malaysia
Brazil
Germany
Philippines - 0.020 million jobs

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The average yearly solar intensity is >_______, and the average daily solar intensity is >_______.

2800 kWh/m2; 7.5 kWh/m2

Two important factors that influence the efficiency of solar PV technology, and these two parameters vary among different countries.

Distribution of solar radiation; intensity

Vertical axis windmills with sails made of reeds or wood. Located in Iran.

Nashtifan Windmills

(Year): First horizontal axis windmills appeared in _______.

1150; England

(Year): He built the first multi-bladed wind turbine (capacity), used to charge lead-acid batteries.

1887; Charles Francis Brush; 12 kW DC

(Year): He improved Brush’s design, reducing rotor blades to increase energy efficiency.

1891; Poul la Cour

Formerly the world’s most powerful offshore turbine.

GE Renewable Energy's 12 MW Haliade-X

Currently the world's largest wind turbine.

Mingyang Smart Energy's 16 MW MYSE 16.0-242

It is the measure of the wind turbine or wind farm’s potential to produce electrical energy.

Availability

Availability is used for various purposes, such as (Enumerate 4).

EPED 1. Estimating energy output 2. Projecting revenue 3. Evaluating turbine design performance 4. Determining performance-based warranties or penalties

Approximately __% of the solar energy that reaches Earth is transformed into wind's kinetic energy.

Globally, wind energy has experienced significant growth, with a total installed capacity exceeding _______ as of 2023.

1,000 GW

Commercial wind projects typically require average wind speeds of at least _______ at a turbine height of _______ to be economically viable.

6.5 m/s; 80 meters

It states no turbine can capture more than __% of wind's kinetic energy, while modern turbines achieve about __% efficiency.

Betz Limit; 59%; 50%

It measures actual versus potential energy output, range from __% to __% for U.S. onshore turbines, averaging __%.

Capacity factor; 9 to 53%; 31%

It refers to limiting wind farm output due to grid constraints and has decreased from 11.1% in 2009 to __% in 2022.

Curtailment; 5.3%

Wind farms require about _______ of capacity, though only __% of the land is occupied by infrastructure.

85 acres per megawatt (MW); 1%

Wind energy significantly reduces carbon emissions, preventing approximately _______ of CO₂ annually in the U.S.

348 million metric tons

Concerns about wind turbine noise have been largely debunked, with sound levels ranging from _______ at _______ meters—comparable to background noise.

35 to 45 decibels at 350 meters

It provides a 30% tax credit for wind energy systems, benefiting both large-scale projects and residential installations

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

It enables businesses to secure long-term wind energy contracts, reducing fossil fuel reliance.

Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)

It allows companies to claim wind energy's environmental benefits.

Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)

It programs in 10 states and enables local governments to procure wind energy for residents.

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)

Wind turbines installed on land, typically in open fields, hills, or mountain ridges where wind speeds are favorable.

Onshore

Wind turbines installed in bodies of water, typically in oceans or large lakes, where wind speeds are higher and more consistent.

Offshore

Wind turbines are usually between _______ high, which vary depending on the wind strength in the specified location of the wind farm.

80 to 120 meters high

It is composed of three blades joined together through the bushing. It captures the force of the wind. It converts the wind energy into rotational mechanical energy.

Rotor

It is connected to the engines through a shaft. It allows the increase of rotational speed up to 50 times its rate (from 30 rpm to 1500 rpm).

Multiplier

This converts the rotational mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Generator

Enumerate the five major components of modern wind energy systems.

1. Rotor (blades and hub) 2. Gearbox (rotor shaft and generator shaft) 3. Tall tower 4. Solid foundation 5. Control system

The part of the wind turbine that interacts directly with the wind.

Rotor

The central component that holds the blades together and transfers their rotational energy to the main shaft.

Hub

It connects the slowly rotating rotor shaft to the fast-spinning generator shaft.

Gearbox

Wind turbine blades rotate relatively slowly (_____ RPM), while a typical generator requires _____ RPM to efficiently produce electricity.

10-20 RPM; 1500-3000 RPM

It raises the rotor and nacelle to higher altitudes, where wind speeds are stronger and more consistent.

Tall tower

It ensures that the wind turbine remains stable and upright even in extreme weather conditions like high winds and ice buildup.

Solid foundation

Enumerate the 2 types of onshore foundations.

Gravity-based foundation; Pile foundation

Enumerate the 3 types of offshore foundations.

Monopile foundations; Jacket structures; Floating foundations

It is responsible for starting, stopping, and optimizing turbine operation based on wind conditions. It includes sensors, software, and automation to ensure safe and efficient power generation.

Control system

Enumerate the two basic types of wind turbines based on axis orientation.

HAWT; VAWT

They are the most common type of wind turbines used for large-scale electricity generation. Their rotor shaft is oriented horizontally and parallel to the ground, similar to traditional windmills.

Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)

They have their rotor shaft oriented vertically, meaning the blades rotate around a vertical axis perpendicular to the ground. These turbines do not need to be pointed into the wind and can function in turbulent wind conditions.

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)

Enumerate 5 differences between HAWT and VAWT.

1. Rotational axis 2. Blade orientation 3. Yaw system 4. Height 5. Efficiency

Currently, the energy mix in the Philippines is composed of (Enumerate 4 and their percentage).

Coal (47%); Natural gas (22%); Renewable energy (24%); Oil-based (6.2%)

Solar and wind energy shares in the Philippines only make up just about ___% in the total renewable energy share in the energy mix, which is below the global average (___%), and the average among ASEAN countries (___%).

2.5%; 13%; 4.4%

Enumerate the 8 wind farms operating in the Philippines and their capacities.

1. Burgos Wind Farm - 150 MW 2. Caparispisan - 81 MW 3. Pililla - 54 MW 4. San Lorenzo - 54 MW 5. Puerto Galera - 48 MW 6. Nabas - 36 MW 7. Bangui - 33 MW 8. Pagudpud

It is the largest wind power project in the Philippines.

Burgos Wind Farm

Caparispisan Wind Farm is also known as?

North Luzon Renewables Wind Farm

It is the first wind energy facility in the Visayas region located in the province of Guimaras.

San Lorenzo Wind Farm

Puerto Galera Wind Farm is also known as?

Wind Energy Power System (WEPS)

It is currently the Philippines’ highest perched wind farm.

Nabas Wind Farm

It is the first wind power facility in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Bangui Wind Farm

Enumerate the challenges in wind energy in the local sector

CELT-FP 1. Cost of energy 2. Environmental and social impacts 3. Transmission 4. Limited local supply chain 5. Financing and bankability 6. Project ownership

Enumerate the opportunities in wind energy in the local sector

ILIRB 1. Improve energy security 2. Lower greenhouse gas emissions 3. Increase renewable energy supply 4. Reduce demands for land use 5. Benefit the economy

Enumerate the leading Countries in Wind Energy Generation

1. China 2. United States 3. Germany

These are policy mechanism designed to promote the development of renewable energy sources, including wind energy, by guaranteeing fixed payments for electricity generated and fed into the grid over a long-term contract.

Feed-in-tariffs

These are legal provisions designed to ensure that renewable energy producers, including wind energy projects, are granted non-discriminatory and prioritized access to the electricity grid.

Grid access guarantees

These are financial incentives provided by governments or other entities to offset a portion of the upfront costs associated with the development and construction of renewable energy projects.

Capital subsidies

These are financial benefits offered by governments to encourage investment in specific industries or activities, such as renewable energy. For wind energy projects, these incentives can include tax credits, deductions, or exemptions that reduce the overall tax liability of developers or investors.

Tax incentives

These are a market-based instrument used to track and certify the generation of renewable energy.

Tradeable energy certificates

These are legally enforceable requirements that set specific criteria or benchmarks for the generation, quality, or use of renewable energy, including wind energy. These are typically imposed by governments or regulatory bodies to ensure that energy producers, utilities, and other stakeholders adhere to certain environmental, safety, or performance standards.

Mandatory standards

These are a specific type of mandatory standard that require utilities or energy suppliers to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and others.

Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards

Renewable Energy Engineering Midterm Exam Reviewer Flashcards

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