Foreword 'r3yFoP}
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body ?o307r
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ZqH.$nXP
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 |#G.2hMFr
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. <WhdQKFf-
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D eK[8$1
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a 5nC#<EE
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into 5'=\$Ob
electricity. =wbgZr^2
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative uL| Wuq
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) 6jz6
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the +ve S~
IEA PVPS programme. ehehTP
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark EY'kIVk
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), ;>YLL}]j
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway `F-<P%k
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United !0i6:2nw
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). W>$2BsO
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, g{0a]'ph
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV 4h% G %>j
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing 5eS0
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countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA {yFCGCs
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. x -CTMKX
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the tgk] sQY
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle zM:&`6;e
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic ,i0Dw"/u
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of C]/]ot0%t
Task III by: 39Nz>Nu:
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) i" 0]L5=P
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) APye
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) [\|`C4@3a
06 December 1999