Foreword _x|8U'|Ce
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body xW;[}t-QS
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 88 =FPEU
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 'e)ze^Jq
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. Ac(irPrD
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D 2yO)}g FJ
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a B+[Q $Q"
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into IS*"_o<AR
electricity. .O-DVW Cm
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative 86 /i~s
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) 1Y"qQp
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the } fMFQA)
IEA PVPS programme. WuZ n|j'
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark L , Fso./y
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), 3rdxXmx
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway %f(.OR)6{
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United AS"|r
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). R/xCS.yl}
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, oc%le2
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV y] r~v
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing e[& 3K<
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA $=SYssg7La
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. `rJ ~*7-
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the Zo ReyY2
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle l8lR 5<
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic &L`p4AZ
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of c0p=/*s(
Task III by: Z'm%3
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) 0nnq/u^
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) U .h PC3
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) 0DT2q M[,
06 December 1999
