v1.2 2013 © NABCEP 2013 NABCEP PV Technical Sales Job Task Analysis • 1Small Wind Resource Guide Rev 1.0 06/07/2010 © NABCEP 2010
N A B C E PPV Technical Sales Job Task Analysis
v1.2/2013 www.nabcep.org Raising Standards. Promoting Confidence
2 • NABCEP PV Technical Sales Job Task Analysis v1.2 2013 © NABCEP 2013
NABCEP PV Technical Sales Examination Specifications
N Items Content Domain15 QualifytheCustomer10 SiteAnalysis14 ConceptualDesign5 FinancialCosts,Incentives,andSavings4 FinancialBenefitAnalysisandFinancing3 Non-financialBenefitAnalysis5 PerformanceAnalysis4 PrepareProposals60 (total)
Job Description:
APVTechSalespersonisasolarelectricprofessionalwithdemonstratedexpertiseinthesiting,design,analysisandperformanceofPVsystemswhogatherssitespecificinformation,analyzescustomerneedsandenergyusageforthepurposeofadvisingandprovid-ingcustomerswiththemostappropriatesolutionfortheirsituation.
A. Qualify the Customer
1. Analyze electric bill
• Gatherbills
• Lookforseasonalpatterns
• Lookatdifferentfuelsourcesbeingused
• Reviewutilityrates
• Explainwhysolarmaynotbeappropriate
2. Perform remote site assessment
• Determinehouseorientation
• Determinerooftilt/angle,availablearea
• Determineshading
• Evaluateobstructions
• Inquireabouttypeandconditionofroof
• Determineownershipstatus
• Determinetypeofproperty(residentialcommercial,non-profit)
Knowledge of:
- Howsiteconditionsimpactfeasibilityofsolarsystem
- Internettools
- Thelimitationsofremotetools
- Magneticdeclination
NABCEP PV Technical Sales Content Outline
v1.2 2013 © NABCEP 2013 NABCEP PV Technical Sales Job Task Analysis • 3Small Wind Resource Guide Rev 1.0 06/07/2010 © NABCEP 2010
3. Identify customer needs
• Askaboutreasonsforgoingsolar
• Evaluatefutureenergyusage
• Determinedesiredtimeframe
• Determinewhethercustomerneedsfinancialassistance
• Determineelectricusagepattern,timeofday
• Discusspros/consofbatterybackupvs.generator
Knowledge of:
- Basicsalesskills
- Financialtools
- Theuseelectricratesfunction
- Batteries
- Electricalterminology
- Correlatingusagetospecificappliances
4. Perform ball park estimate
• EstimatearraysizebasedonkWhconsumptionandavailablearrayarea
• Pricearraysizebasedonaverage$/watt
• Evaluatepotentialpriceadders
• Factorinincentives
• Developpricerange
• Developsavingsestimate
• Developpreliminaryeconomicanalysis
• Present(verbally/brief)initialballparkproposalandbenefits
• Discusscustomerbudgetlimits
Knowledge of:
- Priceadders
- Rooftype
- Licensingrequirements
- Howtheheightofbuildingimpactsinstallationcosts
- Impactoflongrunsofconduit,wiringoncosts
- Steepness
- Distancefromloadcenter
5. Identify jurisdictional issues
• Determinezoning
• Determinefiremarshalawareness
• Determinereservationissues
• Checkcity,countyandutilityrequirements
• Identifyutility
• Identifyhomeownerassociation
Knowledge of:
- Zoningissuesforyourarea
- Codesforyourarea
- Utilitiesprocess,interconnectionprocedures,rules
- Lawsrelatingtohomeowner’sassociations
- Insurancelimitations
6. Manage customer expectations
• Advisecustomerthatsystemdoesn’tprovidebackuppower;whengridisdown,itwon’twork
• Explaindifferencesbetweenbatteryandnon-batterysystems
• ExplainthatPVdoesnotheatwater,space,orpools
• ExplainthatPVgenerateselectricity,doesnotoffsetgasloads
• Explainseasonalvariationsinoutput
• Explainrequiredlevelofroutinemaintenance
• Explainsystemequipmentmanufacturerwarranties
• Reviewlifeexpectancyofequipment
• Discussaesthetics
• DiscussROI
• Explainemergingvs.existingtechnologies
• Explainexpectedoutputvs.systemcapacity
• Explaininstantaneouspowervs.annualenergyproduction
• Explaininstallationwarranties
• Explainmanufacturerwarranties
• Explaininsuranceissues,workers’comp,liability
• Explaineffectsonhomeowner’sinsurance
• Explainpotentialimpactonroofwarranty
• Explainperformancevalidationmethods
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Knowledge of:
- Basicsolarsystemknowledge
- Generalfinancialunderstanding
- Productknowledge
- Knowledgeofreturnoninvestment
- Productlimitations
B. Site Analysis
1. Inspect electrical service
• Determineserviceratingcurrentandvoltage
• Identifybussbarandmainbreaker
• Identifylinetapvs.panelupgrade
• Determineavailablebreakerspace
• Determinegrounding
• Identifymanufacturerofpanel
• Determinemethodofinterconnection
• Determinelimits(maxbackfedbreaker)basedonlocalelectricalcode
• Informcustomerofpotentialadditionalcostsrelatedtoutilityhardware,transformers
• Discussfindingswithcustomer
Knowledge of:
- Electricalsafety
- OSHA
- Electricalprinciples
- Electricalcodes
2. Identify locations for system components
• Identifyinverterlocation
• Identifyarraylocationoptions
• IdentifyAC&DCdisconnects
• Identifyjunctionbox
• Locateconduitruns
• Identifyutilitydisconnectifapplicable
• Determinelengthsofconduitruns
Knowledge of:
- NECandmanufacturerclearancerequirements
- Solarexposure
- Hazards(e.g.,powerlines,gaslines,meters)
- ThedifferencebetweenAC&DCdisconnects
- Voltageratingsonfuses,AC&DCswitches
- Utilitydifferencesonrequirementsfordisconnects
- Tapemeasure
- Laserlevel
3. Assess mounting location
• Identifyroofingmaterial
• Identifyframing
• Identifyspacingandspans
• Determineifthereisanatticspacevs.flatroof
• Assessstructuralintegrityofroof(lookatunderside)
• Documentconditionofroof(photos,notes,etc.)
• Determinesoilcompositionforground/polemounts
• Identifyundergroundobstructions(septic,gaslines)
• Determinesolarexposure
• Measureroofareaorgroundarea
Knowledge of:
- Roofingmaterials
- Basicframing
- Standardbuildingpractices(spacing)
- Roofingterminology
- Risksoffalling
- Walkingonroofswithoutcausingdamage
- Readingblueprints
- Anglegauge
- Safetyharness
v1.2 2013 © NABCEP 2013 NABCEP PV Technical Sales Job Task Analysis • 5Small Wind Resource Guide Rev 1.0 06/07/2010 © NABCEP 2010
4. Perform shade analysis
• Identifyexistingshadingobstructions
• Considerfutureshadingobstructions
• Performinter-rowshadinganalysis
• Completeshadestudy
• Analyzeannuallossfromshading
• Analyzeseasonal/dailyvariationsinshade
• Determinewhetherrooftopanalysisisnecessary
• Ifsafe,proceedwithrooftopanalysis
• Ifnecessary,bringincrewforrooftopanalysis
• Ifrooftopanalysisisnotfeasible,incorporatebuffer
• Calculatewithinacceptablelimitsofthird-partyaudit,3-5%
• Preparethereport
Knowledge of:
- Theimpactofshadeonsolarsystems
- Theproperuseoftheavailabletools
C. Conceptual Design
1. Select appropriate equipment
• Explainmoduleaestheticoptionstocustomer
• Explainefficiency,cost,aestheticdifferences
• Considergeographiclocation,climate
• Selectthemodule(s)
• Matchinvertertoarray
• Matchinvertertoservicevoltage
Knowledge of:
- Product
- Voltagewindows
- Websitesthatprovideinsolationdata
2. Determine equipment location
• Avoidlocationsthatwillexposemodulestosaltwater
• Complywithmanufacturerspecificationsforinverterlocation
• Discusspotentialsitesforinverterwithcustomer
• Askcustomeraboutlongtermplansforrenovations,etc.
• Considertypeofmonitoringsystem,broadbandvs.wired
• Discussconduitruns
Knowledge of:
- Noiselevelgeneratedbyequipment
- Risksofdamagetoequipment
- NECrequirementsandlocalcodes(AHJ)
- Coolingrequirements
- Manufacturer’sclearances
- Firedepartmentrequirements
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3. Plan system layout
• Determinemodulelayout
• Determineelectricallayout
• Determinewhichfacesofrooftouse
• Sketchsystemlayout
Knowledge of:
- Stringlayout
- Roofsetbacks
- Geometry
- Computerskills
- Spacingbetweenmodules
4. Perform string sizing
• Selectstringsizingmethod
• Considermin,maxtemperatures,site
• Standoffdistance(re:airflow)
• Matcharrayvoltagetoinvertervoltagewithapplicabletemperatureconditions
• Considermodulevoltagedegradationovertime
Knowledge of:
- Applyingtemperaturecoefficients
- Correlationbetweentemperatureandvoltage
5. Determine breaker size or supply side connection
• Determinemaxinverteroutputgivenbussbar
• Evaluatewhetherthereisroomforabreaker
• Evaluatetheserviceamperage
• Determinewhethernewelectricalserviceisneeded
• Determinewhetherlinesidetapcanbeused
Knowledge of:
- Spacingbetweenmodules
- Electricalservicesizes
- Currentratings
- Linesidetap
6. Determine mounting method and tilt angle
• Evaluaterooftypeandmaterial
• Evaluateroofpitch
• Evaluatestructuralmembers(wood,steel,trusses,rafters)
• Determinespacerequiredundermodules
• Considerimpactonroofingwarranties
• Selectracking
• Determinenumberandtypeofroofpenetrations,flashing
• Evaluateperformanceandaestheticimpactofvarioustiltangles
• Identifytrenchingconsiderations
• Determinelocalheightrestrictions
Knowledge of:
- Roofing
- Product
- Mountingsystems
D. Financial Costs, Incentives, and Savings
1. Explain types of incentives and net cost
• Explainlocalnetmeteringpolicies
• Explainfeed-intariffs
• Identifyutilityfinancialmodels
• Explainstate,cityandfederaltaxcredits,treasurygrants,depreciation,propertytaxexemptions,RECs,PBIs,rebates,taxdeduc-tions,transfercredits,salestaxexemptions
• Calculatenetcostafterincentives
v1.2 2013 © NABCEP 2013 NABCEP PV Technical Sales Job Task Analysis • 7Small Wind Resource Guide Rev 1.0 06/07/2010 © NABCEP 2010
2. Explain types of utility rates and net electric bill savings
• Explaintimeofuse
• Explaintieredratestructures
• Explainwhatenergyanddemandchargesare
• Explainhowsolarimpactsdemandcharges
• Explainhowsolarimpactsenergycharges
• Discusspossibilityofswitchingfromoneratestructuretoanother
• Explainpotentialfuturerateescalations,decreases
• Calculateelectricbillsavings
• Calculateinternalrateofreturn(excludefinancingcosts)
• Calculatesimplereturnoninvestment
• Calculateyearstopayback
• Explainpre-taxandafter-taxbenefits
• Calculatetheoreticalresalevalueincreaseonproperty
• Explaintocustomerpotentialpropertyequityimpact
• Explaindegradationrate
• Calculatenetsavings
• Informcustomerthatprojectionsarenotlegallybinding,disclaimer
Knowledge of:
- Financials
- Compoundinterestcalculations
2. Evaluate appropriate financing options
• Cashupfront
• Homeequityloan
• Leasing
• PowerPurchaseAgreement(PPA)
• Consumerloans
• Communitybasedfinancing,PACE
• Utilityloans
Knowledge of:
- Financingoptions
F. Non-Financial Benefit Analysis
1. Calculate/quantify environmental benefits proportional to estimated production
• CalculateCo2avoidance
• Calculatetonsofcoalsaved
• Calculatewatersaved
• Calculatemilesnotdrivenincar
• Calculateacresoftreessaved
• Calculatebarrelsofoilsaved
E. Financial Benefit Analysis and Financing
1. Calculate financial analysis
• Calculatecashflowanalysis
• Calculatebillsavings
• Calculatemaintenanceexpenses
• Calculatereplacement/repaircostsforinverter
• Developmulti-yeartimelinedetailingcosts/benefits
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2. Describe non-financial non-environmental benefits
• Articulate/calculateenergyindependence
• Articulatesocialbenefits
• Articulateothernon-environmentalbenefits
G. Performance Analysis
1. Calculate production
• Considerinsolationdata
• Reviewtemperaturedataforthearea
• Considermicroclimatedataifavailable
• Considerimpactofdustanddirt
• Modulenameplaterating
• Considertimeofuse
• Considershading
• Considerwirelosses
• Considermoduleoperatingtemperature,regionalambienttemperaturesandairflow
• Considercomponentefficiencies(e.g.,inverter,DCmodules)
• Considertilt
• Considerazimuth
• Considerdiodesandconnections
• Considermodulemismatch
• Considersystemavailability
• Considertracking,dualorsingleaxis
• Considersystemageordegradation
Knowledge of:
- Sitesthatcanprovidedata
- PVWATTSorSAM
- RETScreen
- Howvariousfactorsimpactproduction
2. Identify factors that degrade system performance over time
• Moduledegradationovertime
• Landscapingissues,treegrowth
• Newconstruction
H. Prepare Proposals
1. Create minimum acceptable proposal
• Includeproductionestimate
• IncludeSTCDCsystempowerrating(andCECACorotherratingasapplicable)
• Includeaveragemonthlyelectricbillsavingsestimate
• Includetotalcost,rebates,taxincentives,andnetcost
• Identifyandestimatepermitfees,interconnec-tionfees,taxesandotherforeseeablecosts
• Identifyvariableorunknowncostsandprovideestimatedrangeofcost
• Includepaymentschedule
• Identifyincentivespaidovertime(PBI,FIT,SRECs)
• Includeconstructiontimelineandmilestonedates
• Includemajorequipmentlist,powerratings,andpartcount
• Listassumptions,specialfactors,andlocationsforequipmentinstallation
Knowledge of:
- Readingmanufacturerdatasheets
- Ratingspecs
- Documentsrequiredforcompletingthesale
2. Include additional elements as applicable and/or appropriate
• Includefinancialbenefitand/orfinancingdiscussionasapplicable
• Includenon-financialbenefitdiscussionasapplicable
• Includeenergyefficiencyandconservationdiscussionasapplicable
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners56 Clifton Country Road, Suite 202Clifton Park, NY 12065800-654-0021 / [email protected]
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