Foreword E*i#?u
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body G :g69=x y
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development `~eUee3b.~
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 k4 F"'N
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. F5S@I;
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D gv5*!eI
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a "Ks,kSEzu
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into Sna4wkbS
electricity. \W 1/p`
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative n]he-NHP
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) kQ ]$ %Lk[
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the n_' {^6*O
IEA PVPS programme. +{/
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark 7g_]mG [6
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), J4 Dry<
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway HV<Lf
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(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United o6 $4/I
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). 4`,j = 3
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, J=/5 }u_gw
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV s=CK~+,/
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing X.:]=,aGW
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA m# =z7.XrX
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. e1P"[|9>R
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the k1Q ? '<`
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle $ MC)}l
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic .`&F>o(A
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of G8Du~ h!!U
Task III by: $8BPlqBIZ
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) *?M GMhE
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) NIw\}[-Z0E
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) 6uR^% W8]
06 December 1999
