Reliable cost effective photovoltaic (PV) systems system approach with one-source responsibility

In order to provide a reliable, cost-effective electrical power source for telecommunication systems, a system approach with a one source responsibility is imperative to compose a well matched PV system. State of the art application technology and product compatibility are requisites to assure users of PV systems of one of its major advantages: low life cycle costs. The battery having the shortest lifetime of the parts of a PV system, has a big impact on the life cycle costs. Next to the description of the recommended approach to compose a well matched PV system, the paper calls special attention to the performance and ageing of batteries in a PV system.