Foreword P5Dk63z]
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body Fg4@On[,i
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development _ eiF@G
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 hbfsHT
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. lV)G @l[1
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D tt{`\1q
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a nj
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into A="f j
electricity. H-2_j
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative '?8Tx&}U8
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) OX^3Q:Z=
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the fhr-Y'
IEA PVPS programme. ;ct U&`
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark (Q_2ODKo
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), )2V@ p~k?
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway GI_DhU]~)
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United Z/7dg-$?'0
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). |xeE3,8
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, { *$9,
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV fI]b zv;
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing C_Gzv'C"L
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA 'evv,Q{87
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. >A=\8`T^
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the nB&j
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle L/ fRF"V
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic 3e
73l
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of H(&Z :{L
Task III by: KuXkI;63J>
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) )$_,?*fq:
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) t !~ S9c
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) m|1n
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06 December 1999
