Virginia Alternative Energy Systems (AES) Contracting Exam
Virginia Alternative Energy Systems (AES) Contracting Exam
Mostly Tested Exam Coverage Areas:
1. Virginia AES Scope, Licensing & DPOR Regulatory Boundaries
2. Photovoltaic Module Characteristics, Series/Parallel Configuration &
Performance
3. Inverter Types, MPPT Function & Rapid Shutdown Requirements
4. Energy Storage Systems, Battery Safety & Charge Controller Operation
5. Roof Mounting, Structural Loading, Flashing & Weatherproofing
6. Grounding, Bonding, Overcurrent Protection & Disconnecting Means
7. Solar Site Assessment, Shading Analysis & System Sizing Calculations
8. Wind Turbine Components, Siting & Capacity Factor
9. Geothermal & Supplemental Energy System Fundamentals
10. OSHA Safety, Fall Protection, Electrical Hazards & LOTO
1. A Virginia contractor holding only the AES specialty is asked to replace a
residential electrical service panel as part of a solar retrofit. What is the most
,legally defensible course of action?
A) Perform the panel replacement because it is physically connected to the PV
system
B) Subcontract the panel replacement to a properly licensed electrical contractor
C) Perform the work after notifying DPOR by phone
D) Refuse the entire project because AES contractors can never touch service
panels
Answer: B
Rationale: The AES specialty does not authorize electrical work beyond the
alternative energy scope; panel replacement is electrical contracting work
requiring the appropriate license or a properly licensed subcontractor. A and C
incorrectly assume AES scope expands by connection or notification. D is overly
restrictive because the AES contractor may still perform the AES-scoped work
while subcontracting the electrical portion.
2. During a site visit, a homeowner asks whether the AES specialty alone permits
installation of a fossil-fuel-powered backup generator. What is the correct
response?
,A) Yes, because all generators are supplemental energy systems under AES
B) Yes, provided the generator is under 10 kW
C) No, fossil-fuel emergency generators fall outside the AES specialty scope
D) No, unless the contractor also holds a plumbing license
Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia regulations explicitly exclude fossil-fuel-powered emergency
generators from the AES specialty. A and B incorrectly treat generator type or size
as irrelevant. D confuses the applicable trade; the exclusion is based on fuel type,
not plumbing scope.
3. A PV module has a nameplate open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 48.2 V at STC.
When designing a string for a system with a record-low ambient temperature of
-10°C, what voltage correction must the designer apply?
A) Multiply Voc by the temperature coefficient of Voc for the expected cold
temperature
B) Divide Voc by the inverter MPPT window
C) Use the STC Voc without correction because STC is conservative
D) Add 10% to Voc regardless of the module coefficient
, Answer: A
Rationale: Module Voc increases as temperature decreases, so cold-weather
design requires applying the module’s Voc temperature coefficient to ensure the
string voltage does not exceed inverter or equipment ratings. B confuses MPPT
window with voltage correction. C dangerously ignores cold-temperature voltage
rise. D uses an arbitrary factor rather than the manufacturer’s coefficient.
4. An installer is connecting four identical PV modules in series. Each module
has Voc = 40 V and Isc = 10 A. What are the approximate series string Voc and
Isc?
A) 40 V and 40 A
B) 160 V and 10 A
C) 160 V and 40 A
D) 10 V and 160 A
Answer: B
Rationale: In a series connection, voltages add while current remains the same as
a single module. A incorrectly adds current. C incorrectly adds both voltage and
current. D inverts the series relationship entirely.
Virginia Alternative Energy Systems (AES) Contracting Exam
Mostly Tested Exam Coverage Areas:
1. Virginia AES Scope, Licensing & DPOR Regulatory Boundaries
2. Photovoltaic Module Characteristics, Series/Parallel Configuration &
Performance
3. Inverter Types, MPPT Function & Rapid Shutdown Requirements
4. Energy Storage Systems, Battery Safety & Charge Controller Operation
5. Roof Mounting, Structural Loading, Flashing & Weatherproofing
6. Grounding, Bonding, Overcurrent Protection & Disconnecting Means
7. Solar Site Assessment, Shading Analysis & System Sizing Calculations
8. Wind Turbine Components, Siting & Capacity Factor
9. Geothermal & Supplemental Energy System Fundamentals
10. OSHA Safety, Fall Protection, Electrical Hazards & LOTO
1. A Virginia contractor holding only the AES specialty is asked to replace a
residential electrical service panel as part of a solar retrofit. What is the most
,legally defensible course of action?
A) Perform the panel replacement because it is physically connected to the PV
system
B) Subcontract the panel replacement to a properly licensed electrical contractor
C) Perform the work after notifying DPOR by phone
D) Refuse the entire project because AES contractors can never touch service
panels
Answer: B
Rationale: The AES specialty does not authorize electrical work beyond the
alternative energy scope; panel replacement is electrical contracting work
requiring the appropriate license or a properly licensed subcontractor. A and C
incorrectly assume AES scope expands by connection or notification. D is overly
restrictive because the AES contractor may still perform the AES-scoped work
while subcontracting the electrical portion.
2. During a site visit, a homeowner asks whether the AES specialty alone permits
installation of a fossil-fuel-powered backup generator. What is the correct
response?
,A) Yes, because all generators are supplemental energy systems under AES
B) Yes, provided the generator is under 10 kW
C) No, fossil-fuel emergency generators fall outside the AES specialty scope
D) No, unless the contractor also holds a plumbing license
Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia regulations explicitly exclude fossil-fuel-powered emergency
generators from the AES specialty. A and B incorrectly treat generator type or size
as irrelevant. D confuses the applicable trade; the exclusion is based on fuel type,
not plumbing scope.
3. A PV module has a nameplate open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 48.2 V at STC.
When designing a string for a system with a record-low ambient temperature of
-10°C, what voltage correction must the designer apply?
A) Multiply Voc by the temperature coefficient of Voc for the expected cold
temperature
B) Divide Voc by the inverter MPPT window
C) Use the STC Voc without correction because STC is conservative
D) Add 10% to Voc regardless of the module coefficient
, Answer: A
Rationale: Module Voc increases as temperature decreases, so cold-weather
design requires applying the module’s Voc temperature coefficient to ensure the
string voltage does not exceed inverter or equipment ratings. B confuses MPPT
window with voltage correction. C dangerously ignores cold-temperature voltage
rise. D uses an arbitrary factor rather than the manufacturer’s coefficient.
4. An installer is connecting four identical PV modules in series. Each module
has Voc = 40 V and Isc = 10 A. What are the approximate series string Voc and
Isc?
A) 40 V and 40 A
B) 160 V and 10 A
C) 160 V and 40 A
D) 10 V and 160 A
Answer: B
Rationale: In a series connection, voltages add while current remains the same as
a single module. A incorrectly adds current. C incorrectly adds both voltage and
current. D inverts the series relationship entirely.
