Foreword @$!6u0x
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body }EYmz/nN
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development S=lCzL;j"
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 $STGH
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. K F _Uu
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D B9[vv;lzu
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a vH-|#x~
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into 1L+hI=\O
electricity. jMCd`Q]K
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative *aC[Tv[-P
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) ""
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is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the ]n>9(Mp!M
IEA PVPS programme. he/rt#
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark .ahY 1CO
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), a'/C)fplL
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway -s!J3DB
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United .P7q)lj36h
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). (9ZW^flY
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, R9^vAS4t[O
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV 7w" !"W#
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing ;?@Rq"*
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA ("ix!\1K@
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. $GU s\
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the y9]7LETv\M
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle aMGh$\Pg
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic G7|d$!%
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of ,/GFD[SQ
Task III by: h.]^ o*DJ
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) gY [G>D=
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) 2bLc57j{`9
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) }~=<7| N.
06 December 1999
