Foreword W5TqC
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body 'Dnq+
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development {|G&W^`
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 1LV|t+Sex
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. X5|?/aR}
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D " pR $cS
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a _CHKh*KHML
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into !d/`[9jY
electricity. KwY`<t1lA;
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative [ e$]pN%
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) G1,Ro1
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the (
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IEA PVPS programme. Q,ZkeWQ7%
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark 9
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(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), 4mki&\lw`
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway AviT+^7E
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United .n?5}s+ q
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). ^Z#<tN;
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, VG? yL2y
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV >eTf}#s?S
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing pIk4V/ fy
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA ':5U&
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. T9aTEsA[U
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the i(dXA(p
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle ;""-[4C
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic +# m
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of wI|bBfd(
Task III by: @Z"QA!OK~c
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) O%r S;o
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) +:j4G^ V
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) :FEd:0TS
06 December 1999
