Foreword beLT4~Z=
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body PcXz4?Q$
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development + tbG^w %
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 w1Z9@*C!
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. C;#-2 ^h
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D b?6-lYE>L
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a I]HrtI
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into ^Ge3"^x1
electricity. ]>E)0<t
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative 0n5{Wr$
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) `|Aj3a3sND
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the jf_xm=n
IEA PVPS programme. uJ Q#l\t
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark s W'SR
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), 7Y `/w$
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway 2!Bjs?K<bv
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United .>4 Zt'gCt
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). \'z&7;px
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, -;5WMX 6
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV oPSucz&s
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing H Aq
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA 'CE3
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countries are sharing their experiences in this area. f+#^Lngo
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the `Sh#>
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hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle 1SddZ5
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic $a'n{ EP
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of X,m6#vLK2
Task III by: G}!dm0s$
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) &L&6 y()G
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) 8Z Y F%
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) 2=P.$Kx
06 December 1999
