Foreword Ch\__t*v!
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body Tw7]
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 91]sO%3
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 ]T'7+5w
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. a{@}vZx>3
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D 4Us_Z{.
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a [(gXjt-
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into ;s;3cC!
electricity. ~>HzAo9e
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative y/5GY,z%aL
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) Kk*8
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the S8Y\@C?5
IEA PVPS programme. l&}}Io$?@
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark N/ f7"~+`
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), {VKFw=$8
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway PfZS "yk
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United {0 j_.XZ
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). Nke!!A}\|
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, o+B)
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV +<j7^AEG
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing fvcS=nRQv
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA 7}g4ePYag
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. 6JDaZh" =K
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the R|v'+ bv
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle
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cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic /isalOT
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of ]8}51 y8
Task III by:
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Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) N0.|Mb"?t
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) DU0/if9.
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) Pc_aEBq
06 December 1999
