Foreword Zyr Vv\'
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body .A7ON1lc^C
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 69Q#UJ
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 zrA =?[
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. *)T7DN8
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D ZGS4P 0$
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a RPTIDA))
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into IP#qT
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electricity. /6 '5 uP
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative 'Y5l3xQk
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) l Ztw[c
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the 7!g4 `@!5M
IEA PVPS programme. Mgux (5`;
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark 5Kkp1K$M
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), 9d+z?J:
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway 1{CVd m<9
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United W HR6/H
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). ^}Gu'!z9D
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, B|kIiL63
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quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV AgJPtzs
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing )#Id=c
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA eq4Yc*|9
countries are sharing their experiences in this area.
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This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the e~G u m
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle q} p
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cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic hx!hI 1
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of xU;Q ~(
Task III by: !@f!4n.e|I
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) 8^qLGUxz
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) a_Z[@W
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) NU%W9jQYS
06 December 1999
