Foreword Cvf[/C+
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body a]M X)?
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 0|a(]a}V*j
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 Qc p m !
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. } q$ WvY/
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D 9<>wIl*T`
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a c` o7d)_Ke
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into QDhOhGK
electricity. #*KNPh
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative s{$(* _
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) uB]b}"+l
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the D}mjN=Y
IEA PVPS programme. ?nmn1`UT
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark 0}CGuws
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), ^3UGV*Ypk
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway >Vwc3d
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United 6E^.7%3
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). D/Mi^5H)
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, F 9@h|#an
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV u4 /kR
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing h"/< ?3{
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA D`$hPYK|_
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. W`u[h0\ c
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the P 9vA7[
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle ]VD|xm:kj
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic 0DJ+I
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of yp({>{u7
Task III by: Y$?9Zkp>
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) iy%ZQ[Un
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) ;oc& Hb
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) hBBUw0"
06 December 1999
