Foreword lY%I("2=
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body AA\a#\#Z3
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 09kR2(nsW/
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 %>Kba M1b
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. f %G\'q]#F
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D EX,> V,.UV
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a ?f?5Kye
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into ^<I(
electricity. ;[ <(4v$
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative j.E=WLKV*
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) sJ6.3=
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is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the A3]A5s6
IEA PVPS programme. m: @y_:X0
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark {>>X3I
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), z. Cj%N
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway R)NSJ-A!2
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United R1];P*>%gZ
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). =p5 DT
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, BgQEd@cN
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV mixsJ}e
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing `/O`%6,f1!
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA QLqtE;;)JK
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. L(y7 0T
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the O}M-6!%<,
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle ON2o^-%=
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic Hw \of
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of t3<MoDe7`r
Task III by: c'oiW)8;A
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) Tmzbh 9
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) 5(>=};r+
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) Y'U1=w~E
06 December 1999
