Energy Engineering interview questions
500 questions with model answers, in four levels. Start with Basic, check yourself honestly, then move up.
Basic questions
- Energy Fundamentals & Thermodynamics (13)
- Thermal Power Plants (13)
- Solar Photovoltaics (13)
- Solar Thermal (12)
- Wind Energy (13)
- Hydropower (12)
- Biomass & Bioenergy (12)
- Nuclear Energy (12)
- Energy Storage & Batteries (13)
- Hydrogen & Fuel Cells (12)
- Grid Integration & Smart Grids (13)
- Energy Audit, Conservation, Economics & Policy (12)
Intermediate questions
- Energy Fundamentals & Thermodynamics (13)
- Thermal Power Plants (13)
- Solar Photovoltaics (13)
- Solar Thermal (12)
- Wind Energy (13)
- Hydropower (12)
- Biomass & Bioenergy (12)
- Nuclear Energy (12)
- Energy Storage & Batteries (13)
- Hydrogen & Fuel Cells (12)
- Grid Integration & Smart Grids (13)
- Energy Audit, Conservation, Economics & Policy (12)
Advanced questions
- Energy Fundamentals & Thermodynamics (10)
- Thermal Power Plants (11)
- Solar Photovoltaics (11)
- Solar Thermal (10)
- Wind Energy (11)
- Hydropower (10)
- Biomass & Bioenergy (10)
- Nuclear Energy (10)
- Energy Storage & Batteries (11)
- Hydrogen & Fuel Cells (10)
- Grid Integration & Smart Grids (11)
- Energy Audit, Conservation, Economics & Policy (10)
Tricky questions
- Energy Fundamentals & Thermodynamics (7)
- Thermal Power Plants (6)
- Solar Photovoltaics (7)
- Solar Thermal (6)
- Wind Energy (7)
- Hydropower (6)
- Biomass & Bioenergy (6)
- Nuclear Energy (6)
- Energy Storage & Batteries (6)
- Hydrogen & Fuel Cells (6)
- Grid Integration & Smart Grids (6)
- Energy Audit, Conservation, Economics & Policy (6)
Sample questions
- What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy?
- What is cogeneration (CHP)?
- What is the difference between DNI, DHI and GHI?
- What is the difference between gross head and net head?
- Why is energy storage needed?
- What are the main parts of a power system?
- What is the Carnot efficiency of an engine working between 600 °C and 30 °C?
- Why does gas turbine output fall in hot weather?
- How can solar heat provide cooling?
- Why are desilting chambers used in hydro plants?
- What battery capacity is needed to run a 2 kW load for 4 hours at 80% DoD and 90% inverter efficiency?
- Why does grid frequency change when generation and load are unbalanced?
- What is the exergy of 1000 kJ of heat available at 500 K with surroundings at 300 K?
- Compare perturb-and-observe and incremental conductance MPPT.
- A turbine underperforms its warranted power curve. What would you check?
- What were the main engineering lessons from Fukushima Daiichi?
- How do alkaline and PEM electrolysers differ when coupled to variable renewables?
- "A 100% efficient electric heater is the most efficient way to heat a home." True?
- "In a thermosiphon water heater, the tank should be below the collector." True?
- "A reactor going critical means something is going wrong." True?