Foreword ;9=9D{-4+
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body H Y. , f_m
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 4kxy7 ] W
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 XRJ<1w:
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. R 4E0avt
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D j05ahquI
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a ZMg% /C
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into J);1Tpm
electricity. L 4
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The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative *~prI1e (
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) A6q,"BS^d
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the Ibd7[A\
IEA PVPS programme. #wx0xQ~,J
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark JEU?@J71O
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), e>uV8!u
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway [^1;8Tbk
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United cV&(L]k >`
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). |X~T</{8i
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, j
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quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV k-b_
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systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing yr [iAi"
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA HPVT$EJ
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. `(W
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This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the ?n? Ep [D
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle J@(*(oQb
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic Gv?3}8Wp
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of ,Y &Q,
Task III by: 3L=vsvO4
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) |~8iNcIS
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) M\e%GJ0
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) [<`xAh_,
06 December 1999
