PG Diploma Solar Semester Two Paper 2 Exam Section C

Case-Based / Applied Questions (01–20)

01. A rooftop project is planned on a building with partial shading and uncertain roof strength. As a solar engineer, what initial checks should you perform before installation?
Model Answer: The engineer should conduct site assessment, structural integrity check, shading analysis, roof condition evaluation, and electrical infrastructure review. These checks determine whether the roof can support the system, how shading affects output, and whether the building is suitable for safe installation.
Marks: 05

02. A contractor reports frequent hot spots in a combiner box. Explain the likely causes and corrective actions.
Model Answer: Likely causes include loose electrical connections, overcurrent, corrosion, poor termination, or component overheating. Corrective actions include inspection of fuses and terminals, tightening or replacing damaged connections, checking current levels, cleaning corroded parts, and using thermal imaging to locate hot spots accurately.
Marks: 05

03. A PV plant is facing repeated cable failure in outdoor conditions. Discuss the likely reasons and preventive measures.
Model Answer: Reasons may include UV exposure, heat, mechanical stress, sharp metal edges, corrosion, poor insulation, or undersized cables. Preventive measures include proper cable type selection, correct routing, edge protection, use of cable clips, avoiding excessive bending, regular inspection, and replacing damaged or corroded sections.
Marks: 05

04. A 1 MW solar plant developer is selecting a site between two locations. One has better solar resource but poor grid access. The other has slightly lower solar resource but strong infrastructure. Discuss the decision criteria.
Model Answer: The decision should consider solar resource potential, grid connection and infrastructure, economic viability, transport access, environmental impact, regulatory factors, and construction conditions. While better solar radiation is desirable, poor grid access can increase project cost and delay. A balanced feasibility study should compare both technical and financial factors before site selection.
Marks: 05

05. A student is asked to prepare a PG Diploma case study for a commercial consumer. What project size should be selected according to the program guidance, and what data source should be used?
Model Answer: For a commercial case study, the size should be 250 kW and above, and it should be based on a live electricity bill. This aligns with the academic submission guidance provided in the notes.
Marks: 05

06. During rooftop installation, the crew finds that roof water flow may be interrupted by the mounting layout. What should be done?
Model Answer: The layout should be reviewed and adjusted before final mounting. Water flow must not be blocked because it can lead to water accumulation and roof damage. Proper positioning of attachments, rails, and cable routing should preserve drainage while maintaining structural safety and energy capture.
Marks: 05

07. A system owner wants to know whether proper grounding is worth the extra cost. How would you justify it technically?
Model Answer: Proper grounding protects people and equipment from electric shock, surges, static build-up, and fault current. It improves overall system safety and reliability and works together with lightning protection. Since solar plants are outdoor electrical systems, grounding is not optional from a safety perspective; it is essential for long-term secure operation.
Marks: 05

08. A solar EPC company must choose between a low-cost uncertified component supplier and a reputed certified vendor. Using the notes, justify the better choice.
Model Answer: The better choice is the reputed certified vendor because procurement strategy emphasizes optimally rated equipment, quality-certified products, reputed vendors and OEMs, and pre-quality audit. Low-cost uncertified components may increase failure risk, delay, and maintenance cost. Quality and certification support reliability, compliance, and long-term project success.
Marks: 05

09. A student proposes a research topic that is very broad and cannot be completed within the available time. Evaluate the issue.
Model Answer: The problem is that a good research question should not be too broad and must be researchable within the available time frame. The topic should be narrowed, made clearer, and focused on a specific issue within the discipline. It should also be justified, feasible, and based on sufficient literature review.
Marks: 05

10. A plant after installation is producing less than expected. What technical and project-level areas should be checked first?
Model Answer: First check shading, module orientation and inclination, loose electrical connections, cable faults, grounding, inverter operation, and monitoring data. At the project level, verify design assumptions, commissioning quality, and whether performance metrics such as array yield, system yield, and PR are within expected range. Thermal imaging and visual inspection should also be used.
Marks: 05

11. A developer wants to estimate whether a solar project is financially suitable before installation. Which study should be done and what should it include?
Model Answer: A feasibility study should be done. It should include available area, transmission availability, solar resource, ground conditions, economic analysis, environmental and regulatory considerations, and community acceptance. This study determines both technical and financial suitability.
Marks: 05

12. A project site is near a corrosive coastal area. What special cable and installation precautions should be considered?
Model Answer: In corrosive environments, cables and connectors should be chosen with suitable environmental resistance, routing should reduce exposure, and regular inspections should be planned. Corrosion-resistant materials, proper sealing, edge protection, and monitoring for rust or discoloration are important to reduce performance loss and safety risk.
Marks: 05

13. A trainee proposes a solar thesis without literature review. Why is this academically weak?
Model Answer: Without literature review, the student cannot know what work has already been done or where a useful contribution can be made. Literature review is essential for forming an original, focused, justified, and researchable question. It helps identify gaps, methods, and the current academic debate.
Marks: 05

14. A residential customer asks whether south-facing orientation really matters. Answer using the notes.
Model Answer: Yes, orientation matters because maximum energy is generated when sunlight strikes the module close to 90°. In the northern hemisphere, modules should generally face south for better solar capture. Correct inclination and orientation directly improve energy production and reduce performance loss.
Marks: 05

15. A project is delayed because transformer transportation and electrical installation are pending. Explain why this is serious from a schedule perspective.
Model Answer: These activities are listed as part of the critical path in the notes. Since the critical path directly affects project duration, delay in transformer transport or electrical installation will likely delay commissioning and project completion. Such delays must be treated as high priority in schedule control.
Marks: 05

16. A plant owner wants more confidence that the project will run safely for the long term. Which construction and commissioning practices should be highlighted?
Model Answer: Key practices include comprehensive design review, material inspection, documented procedures, training and certification, on-site inspections, testing and commissioning, quality control documentation, and performance monitoring systems. Commissioning tests such as voltage polarity, I-V curve, ground resistance, and thermal imaging also strengthen confidence in safe operation.
Marks: 05

17. A student asks how to convert curiosity into a formal research question in solar studies. Explain the process.
Model Answer: Curiosity is the desire to know something, while research is the systematic way to find the answer. The student should identify a connected problem, determine who is involved, clarify what they want to learn, define the assignment goal, review literature, and then frame a clear, focused, feasible question that falls within the subject area.
Marks: 05

18. A solar plant shows repeated surge-related issues after storms. Which protections from the notes become especially important?
Model Answer: Surge protection devices in combiner boxes, grounding systems, earth pits, and lightning arrestors become especially important. These components help protect the system from voltage surges and lightning-related effects and reduce equipment damage and operational interruption.
Marks: 05

19. A commercial building owner wants to know why monitoring systems are necessary when the plant is already generating power. How would you answer?
Model Answer: Monitoring systems are necessary because they do more than show power generation. They track actual performance, help compare output with expected levels, identify faults early, support maintenance planning, and improve system reliability. Monitoring is essential for long-term efficient operation and performance analysis.
Marks: 05

20. A solar project aims to involve local communities to improve acceptance. What measures from the notes can be adopted?
Model Answer: The project can use local procurement, educational programs, community involvement, shared ownership models, land use planning with aesthetics, and social responsibility initiatives such as solar access for nonprofits or underserved communities. These measures improve acceptance and perceived local benefits.

Marks: 05