Foreword /slCK4vFc
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body !]"M]tyv\
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development k=t{o
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 QBmARQ
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. c&#Q`m
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D hRKJKQ@7
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a W;Dik%^tg
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into `$4wm0G|
electricity. X$%[%q8qg
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative .4 NcaMj
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) 5a 6d3u/
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the K\}qY dPF
IEA PVPS programme. 0I)eYksh
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark REc90v2"
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), fZs}u<3Q)
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway NxH%%>o>
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United rf/ ]VAK
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). cgcU2N6y;
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, sNG 7fi.|
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV DbI)tDi 5D
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing G"J
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countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA =J-&usX
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. abV Ei[nP
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the 5[6{o$I
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle L$Xkx03lz>
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic +IGSOWL
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of NHdNCHhA>-
Task III by: /xg1i1 Et
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) 4\U"e *
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) 22d>\u+c
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) !y1qd
06 December 1999
