Foreword {~.~ b+v
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body ^'EeJN
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development n<
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(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 Wbo{v r[2+
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. cIqk=_]
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D <p"[jC2zF;
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a P7GuFn/p~2
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into 3nb&Z_/e
electricity. /BB(riG
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative _@I8B
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) ?E1<>4S8
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the ]h4^3
IEA PVPS programme. Ay7I_"%
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark Sa5+_TW
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), 4W7
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway H/8H`9S$
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United KT1/PWa
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). 9kmEg$WM
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, *`~
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quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV V1Yab#
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing z%xWP&3%"
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA ~WH4D+
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. oRl~x^[%[-
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the t']d_Vcza
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle h2kba6rwk
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic 8bQ\7jb
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of rQ~7BlE
Task III by: D$C >ZF
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) 3vx5dUgl,
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) \Eq,4-q
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) [ kI|Thx
06 December 1999