Foreword _3`{wzM A
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body :Y "f .>
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development :R _(+EK1
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 R+5x:mpHy
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. X(/W|RY{@
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D \jC}>9
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a ~;{)S}U@R
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into ,cS|fG
electricity. =oSv=xY
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative RS$e^_ W
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) @]~\H-8
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the H -`7T;t~
IEA PVPS programme. `w&| ~xT
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark k;" =y )@o
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), ?g!py[CrE
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway *.20YruU;j
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United B4I|"5G2y
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). $ U<xrN>O
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, D=e&"V a
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV I#m5Tl|#
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing ^oj)#(3C
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA S&9{kt|BI
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. 9Y~A2C
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the C:W}hA!
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle #;H+Kb5O
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic T-eeYw?Yf
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of 7kHEY5s
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Task III by: ;g*ab
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) MA hcwmZNy
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) EI]NOG 0
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) jg#%h`
06 December 1999
