Foreword 4#xDgxg\f
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body /{aj}M0kN
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development :Zbg9`d *
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 )._; ~z!
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. KNvZm;Q6
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D .m,_N@,
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a 8, 4"uuI
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into mb TEp* H
electricity. Eu d*_>|
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative 4{U T!WIi
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) W0@n/U
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the E)5\i-n
IEA PVPS programme. wr/"yQA]
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark HZC"nb}r4
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), {yHCXFWlS
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway P6-s0]-g
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United ghG**3xr
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). g0=z&2Q[_)
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, 5h=} j
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV .+3g*Dv{&
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing Q:G4Z9Kt
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA k W Ml
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. :Uzm
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the D rUO-
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle &tLgG4pd
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic d9f C<Tp
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of I(L,8n5
Task III by: { M4gF8(M
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) mP~QWx
