Foreword ;UpJ_y)n8\
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body 'SlZ-SdR
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development D^m2iW;
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 Q
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member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. El B[k<
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D FI?J8a
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a d^6-P
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variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into V- go?b`
electricity. "p;tj7 4O9
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative x=7: D
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) R59iuHQ[
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the 9 m2FH~
IEA PVPS programme. U xHI6,b
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark [Z:P{yr
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), <W8 %eRfU
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway 7* Y*_cH5
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United p~8 O6h@J
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). ^c}3o|1m(
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, |J:r]);@K
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV t'At9<ib
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing Wj|W B*B
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA uQdy
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. [s]$&
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the \yw5`5g
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle Q0jg(=9wP
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic G[ #R 1 '
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of G,?a8(
Task III by: W&9 qgbO]
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) F4T!&E%6
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) zo "L9&Hzo
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) j uF=ZW%i
06 December 1999
