Foreword gf/$M[H!
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body 7\*_/[B
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development vto^[a6?
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 o33 wePx,
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. S;#S3?G
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D hES_JbX}]
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a 7PG&G5
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into {@K>oaZ
electricity. ((i%h^tGa;
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative le%&r
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) bdh6ii
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the 4%L`~J4 wr
IEA PVPS programme. ,Bh!|H(?L1
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark ]`%}Q
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), ` #Qlr+X
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway
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(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United 61e)SIRz9I
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). TVVL1wZ
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, A&%vog]O
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV _t[RHrs
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing vR$[#` X
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA o HqBNTyH
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. )cnH %6X
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the ?@"F\Bv<h
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle &DoYz[q
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic oujg(
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environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of QcBuUFf!c
Task III by: H_gY)m
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) m $^Wyk}
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) _ ; baZ-
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) kSJWXNC
06 December 1999
