Task 3, Stand-alone PV systems, is particularly relevant to developing countries, as it is concerned with PV systems in remote areas, not connected to any major electricity grid. The Task includes technical surveys of BOS components, as well as non-technical studies of institutional barriers, markets and financing mechanisms.

The Task now has participants from 15 OECD member countries. In addition, Brazil, India and Mexico are awaiting confirmation of their associate membership. The wealth of OECD experience can be usefully transferred to PV applications in developing countries. The member countries also have the opportunity to learn from surveys of existing projects in developing countries. To this end, a survey of PV applications in around 20 developing countries was initiated in 1995. The survey resulted in an extensive database of information on PV programmes in the selected countries and includes details of PV capacity installed to date, key players involved in initiating the projects, end-user and government reaction and novel financing mechanisms. The survey has been analyzed and a report on the findings is soon to be presented to the IEA  PVPS Executive Committee.

A further aspect of the developing countries work has been the collaboration of Task 3 participants with multilateral agencies such as the World Bank. This has largely been facilitated through the Developing Countries Team. Many of the DC Team's activities have been reported in previous editions of the newsletter, but two of the most tangible results of this collaboration have been the publication in May of a Renewable energy Briefing Note on PV and a forum on batteries, held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, following the Tenth Task 3 Experts' Meeting in March 1997. Indonesia was chosen as the location because of its large PV programme, with a target of 50 MWp for one million Solar Home Systems (SHS) by 2005. Batteries are often considered to be the weakest component in a SHS, and the forum presented the opportunity to review many of the major problems, as well as several novel methods of battery management. The event was attended by experts from the Indonesian Science and Technology Agency (BPPT) and the World Bank's Asia Alternative Energy Unit (ASTAE). A visit to a 20 kWp PV village electrification plant at Kenteng was also arranged. This system has experienced serious problems with the battery bank and various solutions were discussed on-site.

Information
For further information contact Task 3 Operating Agent.

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