Foreword /|v:$iH,C
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body ,QU2xw D[
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development I`"B<=zi
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 =gL~E9\
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. >5G2!Ns'
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D AT.WXP0$A
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a }H2<w-,+
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into M8j%bmd( ,
electricity. 29#& q`J
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative woIcW
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) qC<!!473 ?
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the 9nIBs{`/Ac
IEA PVPS programme. mqPV
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The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark an! ceB
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), *p )1c_
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway I |@'2z 2
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United A#t #c*
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). =fy~-FN_
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, v}w=I }<x
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV GR&T
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systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing J`F][ A
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA z=q
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. 5 \1C@d
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the F=}-ngx8&
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle r2,AZ+4FP
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic ai/VbV'|
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of ?Uz7($}
Task III by: dn o=C
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) WPbWG$Li
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) n- cEa/g
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) i^hgs`hvU
06 December 1999
