Foreword ",#.?vT`
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body %>|FJ
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ptCF))Zm'
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 8 lyIL^
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. )%(ZFn}
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D .3
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agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a wh:;G`6S
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into \/
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electricity. s^k G]7
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative J)|3jbX"I]
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) -^p{J
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is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the (:o F\
IEA PVPS programme. j7I=2xnTWu
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark u~uzKG
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), <A3%1 82
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway 'R u(`"
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(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United 1X Gg0SC
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). ~ k*]Z8Z
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, .:S/x{ ~
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV :.:^\Q0
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing Iiy5;:CX:q
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA YvY|\2^K
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. ^y5A\nz&
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the LU3p CM{
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle DV5hTw0
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic \u[x<-\/6
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of , ZsZzZ#
Task III by: Fis!MMh.$
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) o;8$#gyNY
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) &L6Ivpj-
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) .UK0bxoa
06 December 1999
