Foreword .aN h>`OT'
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body 8$}<4 `39
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development X~r9yl>
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 3'uXU<W!
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. t<v.rb
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D G J%^hr`P
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a k?fz @H8D(
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into 5k 0iVpjQ
electricity. /GgID!8
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative (,I:m[0
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) i6#*y!3{
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the 4;YP\{u
IEA PVPS programme. 5sJ>+Rg
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark d_ `MS@2
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), )Eozo4~
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway 0T`Qoo>u
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United !gkr?yhE
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). }eLApFHEDg
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, x:)H Ii q/
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV ]'pfw9"f~
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing Zv
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countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA wH|%3 @eJ
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. {"'M2w:|D1
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the @(#vg\UH
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle }uIQ@f`
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic /l7 %x.
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of XC I
Task III by: Iy_5k8 ]
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) Ic&~iqQ
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) I7U /={[J
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) V(TtOuv
06 December 1999
