Foreword w:R]!e_6\9
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body }rxFS
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within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development m?vAyi
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 J WS q"N
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. 6cZ C
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D *<3iE eO/R
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a \]GGVI ;u
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into "2 K|#,%N
electricity. B)d@RAk
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative G[B*TM6$
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) ]=p WZ~A
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the [M2Dy{dh
IEA PVPS programme. v _.j/2U
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark @%7/2 k
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), $pJ3xp&
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway p!V) 55J*
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United ^:$j:w?j
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). |O^V)b Zmx
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, zkvH=wL
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV _4A&%>
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing F .& *D~f
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA 4>d[qr*<
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. uFa-QG^Y{
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the (jt*u (C&Y
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle P}b Dn;
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic ]*;RHy9
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of !WDn7j'A
Task III by: :K5V/-[|V1
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) 1Z =;Uy\
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) vHoT@E#}'
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) 8V Kb*
06 December 1999
