Foreword ]hZk #rp }
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body %Lq}5zB
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 38%"#T3#
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 n2Q ?sV;m
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. Bk5 ft4v-
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D F1p|^hYDW
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a y (=0
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into ;Hb"SB
electricity. T#HF! GH]
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative X7?j90tH
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) Cj J n
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the 7**zO3
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IEA PVPS programme. n ;y[%H!g
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark S KGnx
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), kH=qJ3Z
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway ] (`:<>c
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United ;HiaX<O!
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). ,2 P /[ :
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, H7f
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quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV bnV)f<
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing {vu r9L
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA ]-l4
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. milQxSpj
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the ){w!< Lb
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle y8]vl;88yY
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic ~e Uv.I/
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of Pt'=_^Io
Task III by: lo3 6b zbT
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) M`xI N~
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) p$<){ ,R
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) S e(apQ H
06 December 1999
