Foreword T
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The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body Ix=} +K/
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development a (b#
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 5Qn
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member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. q):5JXql~
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D [^e%@TV>d
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a kep/+ J-u
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into dCk3;X U
electricity. j4`0hnqI
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative =U|.^5sa#
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) 78# v
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the $79=lEn,
IEA PVPS programme. z'\_jaj^
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark )ZqTwEr@[
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), giI WGa.a+
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway 7KL v6]b
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United kZZh"#W: L
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). _p&]|~a
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, _EM wm&!
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV Qqvihd
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing u TK,&
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA '~&X wZ&
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. \6 <=$vD
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the YSh+pr
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle W$OG( m!W>
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic L3 --r
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of U4-g^S[
Task III by: \$\ENQ;Nk
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) TbGn46!:
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) ^,8)iV0j_
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) *q".-u!D[
06 December 1999
