Foreword F + m }#p
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body zc rY>t#l
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ^ D%FX!$
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 Zf$Np50@(
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. Gg Jf7ie4
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D f| _u7"OX
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a t>=fTkB
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into VTy9_~q
electricity. El\%E"Tk%
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative JjaoOe
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) I$q]. B
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the wX >*H
IEA PVPS programme. I9h ?;(
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark 'R-3fO???
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), (T`E!A0I\?
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway Ym% xx!9
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United ) e5 @
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). n3A aZp[
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, ;AO#xv+#
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV V |(H|9
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing 4=<tWa|@9
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA I:K"'R^
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. ^[:p|U2mA
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the q`-;AG|xF
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle Pj}6 6.
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic k0Ol*L!p
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of |$?bc3
Task III by: Tg!m`9s+
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) '%q$` KDb
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) /c
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Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) :oJ=iB'Zc
06 December 1999
