Foreword Bl6> y/
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body lgL|[ik`
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 6k% Lc4W
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 W.O]f. h
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. sE Rm+x<
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D lM N3;}K
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a `r$c 53|<u
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into @|hn @!YK
electricity. .dvO Ut I[
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative HAtf/E]
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) ztRe\(9bL
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the +YA,HhX9
IEA PVPS programme. j4fv -{=$
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark ET[vJnReC
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), nR2pqaKc
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway q]qKU`m!Q`
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United Ld?-Ik~fF>
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). #F~^m
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, 3cH`>#c
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV ^G~C#t^
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing EG|fGkv"
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA jwe^(U
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. NGYUZ\ m
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the NPFrn[M$
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle 9AGf4tu y
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic ofu
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environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of ;Ww s;.~
Task III by: #w
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Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) E<|p9,M
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) Gop;!aV1*
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) T/$6ov+K
06 December 1999
