Foreword " ^baiN@ac
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body pPqN[ OJ
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ocqB-C]
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 ^<\} Y
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. _IV@^v
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D }t2pIkF;
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a /i y*3P,`
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into I'9s=~VfY,
electricity. 4)H WPX
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative ;3|Lw<D5;
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) CQ Hp4_
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the O^Vy"8Ji}y
IEA PVPS programme. Ws*P MK.0
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark [A9 ,!YY
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), 1Bk*G>CX9(
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway pLQSG}N
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United zQ5jx5B":
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). z8 (R.TB
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, F|Dz] ar
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV tnF9Vj[#%_
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing L%K_.!d^
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA .Spi$>v
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. Flujwh@rg
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the I0H Y#z%
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle X;6r $
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic te*Y]-&I|/
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of [Ht."VxR
Task III by: sI RrEea
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) :.S41S
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) G#n^@k c*,
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) gLaO#cQ%
06 December 1999
