Foreword d34BJ<
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body 12HE =
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development -~v1@
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 (Fs{~4T
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. J/B `c(
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D +a0` ,Jc
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a #dDM
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variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into W(\ ^6S)
electricity. 'T(@5%Db
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative aDda&RM
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) } va>j fy
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the 2sH1) ,\
IEA PVPS programme. 5&TH\2u
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark { 3!E8~
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), 52t6_!y+V
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway QJ2D C
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United |&U{
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Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). ?@CbaX~+K
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, C1o^$Q|j
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV Fx )BMP
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing
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countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA KvXF zx|A
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. 3@\J#mR
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the R*DQLBWc
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle hGJANA
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic .FC|~Z1T<F
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of XeX` h_
Task III by: tn}MKo
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) I &;9
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) ;b!qt-;.<
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) .I.B,wH8
06 December 1999
