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The amount of energy that can be extracted from the solar radiation by solar collectors or photovoltaic systems depends mainly on the installation angle of the collector (tilt angle) and the tracking method used to follow the Sun. In this paper, the optimum tilt angle for Bangalore (12°58′) has been calculated under various tracking conditions. For a fixed tilt angle collector facing south, the optimum tilt angle is estimated to be between 15° and 17° and is not very sensitive to radiation data type. Fixed tilt angle collectors and collectors tilted on a monthly basis produced only marginal benefit (<5% and <10%, respectively) compared to horizontal orientation. However, for continuously tracked systems, benefits are as high as 35%. At least three sets of solar radiation data are available for Bangalore from different sources. It has been shown that they have considerable differences in their direct and diffuse content. All these data have been used to quantify tracking benefits to understand their sensitivity. Limited amount of available in-house data indicates higher diffuse fraction in solar radiation than predicted by historic data and satellite models. Hence, the benefits due to tilting are reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most developing countries, such as India, there exists a large amount of hydropower potential. This is especially true in the small hydro plant capacity range of up to 25 MW. Only a small fraction of this potential has been tapped so far, perhaps due to higher per kilowatt installation cost as compared to large hydro. Small hydropower sites can be classified as (i) run-of-river; (ii) canal based, and (iii) dam-toe schemes, depending on their location. Dam-toe schemes need low investment and can be developed in a shorter period of time. In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate the cost of the low-head, dam-toe, small hydropower schemes. A methodology for cost optimization of such schemes has been developed considering the quantities of various items for each component of the scheme and prevailing prices. Further, to determine financial viability of the scheme at different load factors, sensitivity analysis has also been carried out. It has been found that low-head, dam-toe, small hydropower schemes are financially viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]