Foreword cH&-/|N
The international Energy Agency (IEA) founded in November 1974, is an autonomous body k}5Sz
within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development t(O{IUYM
(OECD) which carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its 23 8b0!eB#_Ee
member countries. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Agency. dPdodjSu,!
The IEA PhotoVoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D s)=fs#%
agreements established within the IEA, and since 1993, its Participants have been conducting a y |BRAk&n
variety of joint projects in the applications of Photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into Rn (vG-xQ
electricity. A/XY' 3
The Overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative 5Iv3B|u
from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) X*'tJN $
is the responsibility of Operating Agents. Currently nine Tasks have been established in the om`x"x&6
IEA PVPS programme. I. [2 -~yf
The Twenty one members are: Australia (AUS), Austria (AUT), Canada (CAN), Denmark \"]vSx>
(DNK), European Commission, Finland (FIN), France (FRA), Germany (DEU), Israel (ISR), c~@ Z
Italy (ITA), Japan (JPN), Korea (KOR), Mexico (MEX), The Netherlands (NLD), Norway YceX)
(NOR), Portugal (PRT), Spain (ESP), Sweden (SWE), Switzerland (CHE), The United g:l5,j .K
Kingdom (GBR), and The United States (USA). }=1#ANM1
Task III of the PVPS programme, active since 1993, focuses on the exchange of information, 2 ;I j~~
quality assurance and technical surveys on stand alone PV applications. Stand-alone PV Svs!C+:le
systems will continue to represent a significant PV market segment, not only in developing @WV}VKm
countries, but also in the important home markets of industrial countries. Experts from 15 IEA HA?<j|M
countries are sharing their experiences in this area. kEH(\3,l
This battery guide is intended for a wide use also close to the end customers to increase the 3yWu-U \k
hands on battery knowledge and thereby increase the system reliability and reduce the lifecycle i?.7o*w8
cost for battery storage in small stand alone photovoltaic systems. Also some basic bbDl?m&bq
environmental concerns are addressed. The report has been prepared under the supervision of *o}LI6_u
Task III by: W 6_~.m"b
Bo Andersson, Catella Generics, (battery expertise) (SWE) z|w @eQ",
Staffan Ulvönäs, (illustrations) (SWE) 1Na*7|
Bengt Perers, Vattenfall Utveckling AB (PV system and applications expertise) (SWE) Y:GSjq
06 December 1999
