Foreword jk*tL8?i
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body ESTM$k }X
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development s~^}F +n
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 3J~0O2
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. y6-XHeU
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D %MZP)k,&U
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a .oqIZ\iik
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into \'Ssn(s
electricity. n[,XU|2
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative 1!1!PA9u
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) &]F3#^!^
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the xCXQ<77
IEA PVPS programme. 9CJ(Z+;OM
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark l30Y8t~d
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), >oGiIYq
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway ST1'\Eo
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United ?A?F.n`
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). #Ex p51
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, 7I9aG.;
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV (YPi&w~S
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing jq-l5}) h
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA e( ?]SU|
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. }^xE|~p
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the *$,:m
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle SmhG Z
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic Dnw| %6Y
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of 7B7&9<gc
Task III by: MHU74//fe
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) E{?au]y$J
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) a0=WfeT
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) MSw$_d
06 December 1999
