Choosing the right battery for a given photovoltaic (PV) system is a key question, because it strongly influences the cost and reliability of the system. This paper presents results of seven test procedures experienced at the GENEC battery test facility. A set of four complementary tests is selected. covering the various types of photovoltaic systems. Moreover, the analysis of these results gives an estimation of the ageing rate for the different types of batteries used in photovoltaic systems.