As part of a research project on new lithium-ion secondary cells to store energy from renewable power sources, this work reports on the development of a new methodology for a laboratory-scale study of electrode materials for these cells under the specific constraints of photovoltaic charging. A first example is that of a cell containing the spinet anode Li(4)Ti(5)O(12), charging under different solar irradiation regimes. This material is well suited to applications under discontinuous charge/discharge conditions. At the end of the test, after about 250 cycles, the two cells tested provide the same capacity and energetic efficiency of about 2.2 mAh and 90%, respectively. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.