太(tai)陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)分光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)和(he)(he)光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。不論產(chan)銷量、發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展速度和(he)(he)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)展前景、光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)都趕不上光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)。可能因光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)普(pu)及較廣而接(jie)觸光(guang)(guang)熱(re)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)較少(shao)，通常民間所說的太(tai)陽能發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)往往指的就是(shi)太(tai)陽能光(guang)(guang)伏(fu)發(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)電(dian)(dian)，簡稱光(guang)(guang)電(dian)(dian)。

       光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是根據光(guang)生伏(fu)特(te)效(xiao)應(ying)原理,利用太(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池將(jiang)太(tai)陽光(guang)能直(zhi)接轉化為電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)能。不(bu)(bu)論是獨(du)立使用還是并網發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)系統主要(yao)(yao)由(you)太(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板(ban)（組件）、控(kong)制器(qi)和逆變器(qi)三(san)大部分(fen)組成(cheng)，它們主要(yao)(yao)由(you)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)子(zi)元器(qi)件構成(cheng)，不(bu)(bu)涉及(ji)機械(xie)部件,所以,光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)設備極為精(jing)煉(lian),可靠穩定(ding)壽命長、安裝維護簡(jian)便。理論上(shang)講,光(guang)伏(fu)發電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)技術可以用于任何(he)需要(yao)(yao)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)的場合,上(shang)至航天器(qi),下(xia)至家用電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan),大到兆瓦級電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)站,小到玩具,光(guang)伏(fu)電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)源(yuan)無處不(bu)(bu)在。國產(chan)晶體硅電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池效(xiao)率在10至13%左右(you)，國外同類產(chan)品效(xiao)率約12至14%。由(you)一個或多個太(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池片組成(cheng)的太(tai)陽能電(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)池板(ban)稱為光(guang)伏(fu)組件。

       太陽(yang)能光伏發電(dian)系統由太陽(yang)能電(dian)池組(zu)(zu)、太陽(yang)能控制器、蓄電(dian)池（組(zu)(zu)）組(zu)(zu)成(cheng)。如輸出電(dian)源為(wei)交流220V或110V，還需要配置逆變器。各部分的(de)作(zuo)用為(wei)：

      （一）太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)：太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)板(ban)是太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統中的(de)核心部分(fen)，也是太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)能(neng)(neng)(neng)發電(dian)(dian)系(xi)統中價值最高的(de)部分(fen)。其作用(yong)是將太(tai)(tai)陽(yang)的(de)輻射能(neng)(neng)(neng)力轉換為電(dian)(dian)能(neng)(neng)(neng)，或送往蓄(xu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)中存(cun)儲起來(lai)，或推動負載工作。 

      （二）太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)：太(tai)陽能控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)作用(yong)是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)整(zheng)個(ge)系統(tong)的(de)工作狀態，并(bing)對蓄(xu)電池起(qi)到(dao)過充電保護、過放(fang)電保護的(de)作用(yong)。在(zai)溫差較大的(de)地(di)方(fang)，合格的(de)控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)還應(ying)具備溫度補償的(de)功(gong)(gong)能。其他附加(jia)功(gong)(gong)能如光控(kong)(kong)開(kai)關(guan)、時控(kong)(kong)開(kai)關(guan)都(dou)應(ying)當是控(kong)(kong)制(zhi)器(qi)的(de)可選項； 

      （三）蓄電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)：一(yi)般為(wei)鉛酸電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)，小微型(xing)系統中，也可(ke)用鎳(nie)氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)、鎳(nie)鎘電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)或鋰電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)。其作用是在有光照(zhao)時將太陽能(neng)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)板所(suo)發出的(de)電(dian)(dian)能(neng)儲存起(qi)來(lai)，到需(xu)要的(de)時候再釋放出來(lai)。 

      （四）逆變器(qi)：太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)的(de)(de)直(zhi)接輸(shu)出一般都是(shi)12VDC、24VDC、48VDC。為(wei)能(neng)(neng)向220VAC的(de)(de)電(dian)器(qi)提供電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，需要將(jiang)太(tai)陽能(neng)(neng)發電(dian)系(xi)統所發出的(de)(de)直(zhi)流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)轉換成交流電(dian)能(neng)(neng)，因此需要使用DC-AC逆變器(qi)。