Foreword c >T)Rc
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body ay`R jT
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development F7/%,vf
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 Zlt, Us`
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. z5D*UOy5M
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D meXwmO
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a sPl3JP&s
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into >5TXL OYZ
electricity. %Na` \`L{F
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative d/ @P;YN!
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) %h;1}SFl0
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the d DAl n+
IEA PVPS programme. 4Me3{!HJ z
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark }AiF 7N0
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), k'sPA_|
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway Mhb~wDQl
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United
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Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). ytb1h Fs
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, 9+ 8N- LZ
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV k ! x`cp
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing ixoN#'y<"
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA et(AO)uv6
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. 'F:Tv[qx
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the PCa0I^d
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle a] 6d hQ`
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic FBOgaI83G
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of ^>eV}I5ak
Task III by: ,w= u?
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) cK\?wZ| Y
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) [By|3 bI
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) 2^Z"4t4
06 December 1999
